Analysis
Lappi's Hyundai future uncertain after critical Rally Chile comments
Esapekka Lappi's recent remarks regarding Hyundai's driver selection have cast doubt on his future with the team beyond 2026.
Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi has openly questioned Hyundai Motorsport's decision to field him at Rally Chile, suggesting Hayden Paddon should have driven instead. These comments, reported by RallyJournal, indicate potential dissatisfaction and raise questions about Lappi's continued involvement with the team.
Lappi's Self-Assessment
Lappi finished sixth at Rally Chile, over five minutes behind the rally winner. RallyJournal reported Lappi stating, "For this rally, I know that choosing me for the car was not the right decision." He further added, "I already said in Finland that they should take Hayden." This public self-criticism is notable for its directness. Paddon had secured second place at Rally Paraguay two weeks prior, driving the same Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car. Paddon’s strong performance on gravel, combined with his recent seat time, made him a logical choice for the subsequent South American event. However, entries for Rally Chile had already closed before Rally Paraguay, complicating any potential driver change. Lappi explicitly noted Paddon had Rally Paraguay "under his belt," making it "the more natural decision."
Future Uncertainties for Lappi
Rally Chile was Lappi's fifth appearance in a Hyundai Rally1 car in the 2026 season. His previous entries included Rally Sweden, Safari Rally Kenya, Rally Estonia, and Rally Finland. Lappi had previously stated that his main motivation for joining Hyundai for the 2026 season was the opportunity to compete at Rally Finland. RallyJournal reported Lappi saying that "from a personal point of view, I think it was the right decision" to join Hyundai, adding he had "enjoyed many days." Despite this, his comments regarding Rally Chile suggest underlying tensions or a disconnect between driver expectations and team strategy.
Hyundai's Driver Roster
Hyundai has already confirmed Dani Sordo will drive the third car at the upcoming Rally Sardinia. This confirms Rally Chile was Lappi's final appearance in a Hyundai Rally1 car for the immediate future. No decision has been made for the final round of the 2026 season. The WRC drivers' championship currently sees Elfyn Evans leading with 201 points, followed by Sami Pajari with 171 points. Takamoto Katsuta is third with 160 points, and Oliver Solberg is fourth with 156. Sébastien Ogier sits in fifth with 139 points. Lappi currently has 25 points. The remaining four rounds of the season will be crucial for championship contenders and driver evaluations.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Analysis, which means this is our reading of facts that are already established. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- RallyJournalrallyjournal.com
