Esapekka Lappi's decision to retire from WRC was far from easy. The driver from Pieksamaki stresses that he has yet to fully come to terms with it. "This has been such a major part of my life for so long and a complete passion, so in that sense it is by no means an easy decision to make or an easy thing to say," he told Rallit.fi.
But on the other hand, the reasons could not be better: his family. Lappi wants to do less of this or stop altogether and focus on something else. "It feels like the time is right now," he added.
The fatal accident involving Hyundai driver Craig Breen in 2023 also played a part in his decision. Lappi was Breen's team-mate that season. "It definitely had an impact. It really stopped me in my tracks. If nothing else, it was the final nail that made me think there is no sense in any of this, to put it bluntly. Why do it when something like that can happen to anyone? It definitely stayed in the back of my mind – it still has – and gradually influenced the decision," Lappi revealed.
He added that the risk is always there. "It just reminds you of the fact that the risk is always there. In that sense, this is quite a sensible decision. But you could also die falling down the stairs at home, or anything could happen," he said.
The highlights of the Finnish driver's career were naturally his two WRC event victories, as well as his European and WRC2 titles. "Those are the easiest ones to remember. But I also really enjoyed 2023, when we took four consecutive podiums with Hyundai around the summer. There was a sense of continuity and a good routine with the car and my driving. The results did not come automatically, but they did come relatively easily in a way," Lappi recalled.
"At that point, I felt that I was actually quite a good driver. But I was left feeling that I would have liked to have been better. That is the feeling I am left with," he said with a hint of disappointment.
Lappi had high expectations for this season. He drove Hyundai's third car on selected WRC events, including Rally Finland. However, his home event came to a bitter end with a crash on the opening day. "That last Jyvaskyla is something I regret quite a lot. It was actually one of the biggest reasons why I joined Hyundai's project for this year. I wanted to drive in Jyvaskyla one more time," he concluded.
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