Hyundai’s third position in the World Rally Championship has been a topic of discussion during the silly season. Currently, the seat is filled by a rotating group of part-time drivers, but team principal Cyril Abiteboul is considering a change in strategy. He is looking to replace the part-timers with a full-time driver.Adrien Fourmaux has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the seat, with M-Sport advocating for him to remain with the team until 2025. However, this raises questions about the future of the current group of Hyundai part-time drivers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the news will be favorable for them.
Esapekka Lappi was a full-time driver for Hyundai at this time last year. He took Ott Tänak’s place temporarily when the 2019 world champion returned to M-Sport. However, there is now uncertainty about whether Lappi will have a seat at all.At the end of the Monza Rally 2020, Lappi’s Fiesta WRC displayed a sense of resignation. After completing the power stage, he expressed gratitude to those who had supported him throughout the years. It seemed like the end of the road for him. When asked if he would be coming back, he replied, “I’m afraid not.”
However, Lappi did eventually make a comeback through WRC2 outings and a one-off Rally Finland, which then turned into a part-time factory drive. After Rally Finland this year, that feeling of finality returned. When discussing his future in the WRC, Lappi seemed contemplative. He even suggested the possibility of requesting a fourth car for next year.
Lappi had been performing well, running in fourth place and only 9.7 seconds off the lead, before his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 veered off the track in Laukaa and crashed into the trees. He had secured his fourth career victory in Sweden earlier in the year, but Latvia proved to be a disaster. Despite his strong performances, it appears that Rally Chile, expected to be Lappi’s last race of the season, will also be his final opportunity to drive the i20 N Rally1. This has left Lappi feeling somewhat frustrated.
While part of him feels this way, he is not overly concerned. He knows that his life will be good regardless of how things turn out. Lappi burst onto the scene as a talented rookie from Finland, winning in his first year. Now, eight years have passed, and he has gained wisdom and perspective. He understands Abiteboul’s decision to consider a full-time driver for the third Hyundai seat, even though he doesn’t want to pass judgment on whether it’s the right choice or not.
Photo from Esapekka Lappi Instagram
