WRC
Why a happy Lappi is important ahead of WRC return in Chile
They say the best performances arrive when you are happy, and rediscovering the enjoyment factor is the key target for Esapekka Lappi as he prepares to return to WRC at Rally Chile BIOBÍO this week.
Lappi and co-driver Enni Mälkönen will take over the third factory Hyundai Motorsport i20 N Rally1 car for the second part of the WRC’s voyage to South America.
The pair kicked off the season with a run to sixth on the snow in Sweden before following that up with fourth at a brutal Safari Rally Kenya. There have also been flashes of speed on their preferred fast gravel rallies in Estonia and Finland, but ultimately both events ended in frustration.
In Estonia, Lappi was unable to find the speed to compete at the sharp end, while in Finland the pace was there before a roll ended his hopes of a possible podium on Friday.
Heading into the gravel roads of Chile, newly crowned 2026 Finnish rally champion Lappi says his goal is clear, emphasising that having fun behind the wheel will be key to delivering a result.
“I’m very excited to drive in Chile again. I really like the roads, and it will be great to get back in a Rally1 car. I have enjoyed the stages there in the past, so I’m looking forward to returning. The weather has been challenging on several occasions, so that could be a factor again this year,” said Lappi.
“The roads are also tricky because, on Friday, you normally drive between gravel banks with no room to run wide. You need to be precise and fully committed because even a small mistake can cost a lot.
“In terms of pace, the target is to be somewhere between Estonia and Finland, as well as having lots of fun. We want to keep improving throughout the weekend and support the team with a good result. Enjoyment is important because, without it, the results don’t come.”
Lappi’s best result in Chile to date was sixth for the factory Citroën team in 2019, before suffering retirements on his two subsequent appearances with Hyundai in 2023 and 2024.
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Hyundai heads into Chile on the front foot after scoring a double podium in Paraguay last month, when Hayden Paddon took the third i20 N Rally1 entry to second ahead of team-mate Adrien Fourmaux.
“After a double podium in Paraguay, we have a good level of confidence that we can carry the same speed into Rally Chile, though the road surface and weather conditions differ between Paraguay and Chile,” said Hyundai Motorsport sporting director Andrew Wheatley.
“We are expecting lower temperatures and the region has had a lot of rain in recent weeks. The profile and construction of the roads are different, however the principle is the same: medium-to-high-speed gravel roads with more camber and elevation change. We are confident that all three crews can be competitive.
“Chile is another event where the lead can ebb and flow, and where one-tenth of a second is not the most important element. It is a rally where consistent speed is rewarded. The most significant advantage we have for Chile is that the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 has been very reliable in 2026.
“In 2025, Adrien and Thierry finished third and fourth. These were good results, but the speed shown by Ott Tänak gave us an indication of the car’s potential. I am confident that we will have three crews able to compete for the podium.”
