Esapekka Lappi finally managed to smile again at Rally Finland. After a dismal Friday, the Hyundai driver bounced back on Saturday with a completely revised setup. He now sits sixth ahead of Sunday's final four special stages.
Last year's Rally Finland crash still lingered in Lappi's mind. He admitted he couldn't find confidence behind the wheel, immediately dropping several minutes off the lead and finding himself in "no man's land" — a zone with no pressure from ahead or behind. But Saturday marked a turning point.
"It was a much more positive day than yesterday. I still wouldn't necessarily say it was a particularly strong day, but in any case, it went slightly better than I expected," Lappi said.
Major changes were made to his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, from springs and differential to ride height, all overhauled during evening service. Lappi also tried to adapt his driving style. As a result, he stayed out of trouble despite having one proper moment.
"We changed the springs, made changes to the differential and altered the ride height. So we made quite a lot of changes," Lappi explained. "We initially used the basic set-up suggested by the team, which has worked here before. However, I previously drove here in the hybrid car, and this set-up didn't really work for me with the current car. That's why we changed quite a few things."
Despite the lack of pace, Lappi once again heaped praise on his co-driver, Enni Malkonen. According to him, Malkonen remained positive throughout. "Of course, there are also quiet moments on the road sections. But she is a really lovely person. As you said, she is incredibly positive all the time," Lappi said. "She also cares a lot about other people. One of the drivers had an incident yesterday, and she has been very concerned today about how they are doing. She is a truly warm-hearted person."
With four stages remaining, Lappi still has a chance to improve his position. More importantly, he has rediscovered comfort in the car. Rally Finland is brutal, but Lappi proved that with the right changes and support from those around him, he can bounce back.
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