Esapekka Lappi announces break from rally career

Finnish rally driver Esapekka Lappi announced on Monday that his professional career will pause after this weekend's season-closing round. The 35-year-old competed in five World Rally Championship (WRC) rounds this season with Hyundai and successfully defended his Finnish rally championship title driving a Skoda.

At a press conference ahead of the season finale, Lappi explained that for now he does not plan to compete in the Finnish championship or elsewhere next year, though he did not rule out a future return, noting he has made similar statements before.

Career achievements

Over his career, Lappi has claimed two WRC round victories — at Rally Finland in 2017 and Rally Sweden in 2024. In 2016 he became WRC2 class champion.

Family and a difficult decision

Back in 2024, Lappi already gave up his full-time seat with the Hyundai team to spend more time with his family, and in recent years he has repeatedly stressed the importance of family life. He admitted the decision was not easy — saying it out loud left his hands shaking slightly. Lappi said rallying has given him a great deal, while also taking a toll on his family, even as it helped secure their financial future.

He described rallying as providing a unique sense of adrenaline, comparing it to an addiction, and said he is most worried about how he will replace that feeling once he stops competing.

Although Lappi himself will no longer race, his ties to rallying will continue — next season he plans to keep supporting 16-year-old Lauri Halonen, who is currently building his own rally career.