Esapekka Lappi Sacrifices Position for Hyundai in Sweden 2026

WRC, Sportrik Media - Esapekka Lappi voluntarily relinquished fifth position to team-mate Adrien Fourmaux at Rally Sweden 2026, prioritizing Hyundai’s championship strategy over personal points. The decision came during the penultimate stage, Vastervik 2.

As split times emerged, it became evident that Lappi was conceding significant time — 12.5 seconds — to Fourmaux. The margin was too substantial to be interpreted as a simple driving error. However, rather than a direct team order, the move stemmed from internal discussions and Lappi’s own assessment of the broader championship picture.

Lappi is competing on a part-time basis in 2026 for Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, alongside Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo. In contrast, Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville are engaged in full-season campaigns targeting the drivers’ title. Hyundai’s strategic framework is clear: maximize drivers’ championship potential through its full-time entries while supporting the manufacturers’ bid collectively.

“Well, if I’m honest, we had some discussion, yes, and then I made a decision on my own that it’s fair. I don’t need these points; he does,” Lappi explained.

He added that applying a similar switch involving Neuville would have been illogical due to the time gap separating them.

“Thierry might as well, but he was so far away that it would have been strange to make that switch. I personally took that decision to play a team game.”

Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley acknowledged the reasoning behind Lappi’s choice. According to Wheatley, the second pass through Vastervik had already been identified as a high-risk stage, where grip evolution and exposed gravel increased the potential for incidents.

“There was a lot of risk on that stage, especially on the second run. Traditionally, those are the stages where if there’s going to be a problem, it happens there. Everyone did an amazing job to get through cleanly, but EP was aware that it could be challenging,” Wheatley said.

Wheatley also emphasized that Lappi executed exactly what was required within his defined role this season. Rally Sweden marked Lappi’s first WRC appearance since September 2024, yet his performance remained competitive throughout the weekend.

“If we had been about three tenths of a second per kilometer faster, he would have been challenging for the podium. He did a fantastic job — limited testing, no damage to the car, strong feedback to the team, and solid contribution to cold-weather preparation,” Wheatley added.

Lappi’s approach reflects a recalibrated career perspective. Rather than pursuing a full championship campaign, he is focused on contributing effectively during selected events. Together with co-driver Enni Malkonen, he is scheduled to return for Safari Rally Kenya on March 12–15, where the demanding gravel terrain will present a distinctly different challenge for Hyundai’s title ambitions.