P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lappi thought drought-ending Sweden WRC win would never come
Esapekka Lappi, driving for Hyundai, won the Rally Sweden, beating Toyota’s Elfyn Evans by 29.6 seconds across 18 snow stages. This victory marked Lappi’s first win since the 2017 Rally Finland. The Finn, competing in a partial programme this year, capitalized on a favorable road position to secure a rally lead on Friday after early leader Kalle Rovanpera crashed out. Lappi maintained his lead, fending off challenges from Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta to claim a long-awaited victory. This triumph boosted Lappi’s confidence and morale, leading Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul to believe that the win will have a positive impact on the team moving forward. Lappi is set to drive Hyundai’s third car at the upcoming WRC round in Kenya from March 28-31.
