Lappi's Sunday speed softens Finland disappointment

As a previous winner of the Jyväskylä-based event, Lappi started round nine hoping for a repeat of that 2017 victory. It wasn’t his year, with a myriad of problems, starting when he was bounced out of a rut and into a tree on the second run through Laukkaa. He retired from fourth place and less than 10 seconds off the lead.

Punctures on both runs of Ouninpohja spoiled Saturday, leaving him with Sunday as his only hope for delivering points for himself and the team. He did just that with top-three times on three of the four stages.

Talking of the hurt and Sunday’s redemption Lappi said: “When you retire from any rally you are disappointed, but Finland was the most important one for me personally. These risks are a part of motorsport, when you are constantly pushing the limit: you don’t do anything wrong and then you end up retiring.

“Today we did what we could, we brought home a good amount of Super Sunday points for the team so I am very satisfied with how the day went.”

Lappi knew, however, that as painful his event was, his countryman Kalle Rovanperä’s retirement from the lead on the penultimate stage was probably worse.

“I really felt for Kalle,” he said. “It’s a big shame for him.”