A comforting message from Jari-Matti Latvala to Esapekka Lap

Jari-Matti Latvala works as Toyota’s team manager. Vesa Pöppönen / All Over Press

Esapekka Lappi, who returned to the main class this year, had a great start to his season when he finished third in the Swedish winter rally. Since then, the Pieksämäkelian has not fared as well.

He stopped once in Croatia, as well as in Sardinia. Estonia became the sixth state burdened by one flat tire.

Lappi has shared the driving responsibility with Sebastien Ogier in Toyota’s three-car this season. The Finn’s contract is terminated at the end of the season.

In Jyväskylä, Lapland has the opportunity to show its real skills. According to Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala, the future of Lapland does not depend on the result of “Jyskälä”.

– We know that Esapekka has the right pace. It’s not about speed, Latvala emphasizes.

– He has had a bit of bad luck in a couple of rallies. Esapeka doesn’t have a full program, which makes it a bit more difficult. Esapeka driving is not limited to one competition.

Lapland has won the Finnish World Rally Championship from 2017. Kalle Rovanperä, who leads the World Series by far, is chasing his first victory in Jyväskylä.

According to Latvala, Rovanperä doesn’t need to go to the gravel roads of central Finland, even if he could afford it.

– This is the kind of race where Kalle gets to drive purely for the win. This is an important home competition for him, says Latvala.

However, winning the home race is not an easy task, no matter how familiar the roads are. For example, the one from Laukaa near Jyväskylä Juha Kankkunen succeeded in the trick only on his 11th attempt.

Last year, Rovanperä was one of the pre-favorites of the Finnish World Cup competition, but it ended up in a pile of sand.

– Sometimes it can be so-called the house cat’s curse. Even if the drive goes well, then some technical problems or a flat tire happen. This is a speed race, and there’s no time for speed here. When you start pulling, you have to keep the gas at the bottom. When you’re chasing victory here, it can’t stand any problems, Latvala, who conquered Jyskälä three times, knows.