Esapekka Lappi experienced some dramatic moments during Saturday morning’s first special test at the World Rally Championship in Mexico.
The Esapekka Lappi rally ended in a dull way. EPA / AOP
Hyundai driver Esapekka Lappi started from the lead for the second day of good driving in the gravel race. However, Lapland’s struggle for victory ended right at the opening stage of the day, when he lost control of his Hyundai, and the competitor plunged headfirst into an electric pole.
– Now that I have analyzed this for a while, I feel that we drove too quietly, even though it may sound stupid. The rhythm was not like when driving at full speed, Lappi stated.
– We got a little stuck on the side of the road when cutting a bend. The entry of the next line was delayed and the line was about 40 centimeters too far out. Then it popped. It was a high speed place so we spun and hit a big power pole. Then another show started.
The electric pole fell onto the roof of the Hyundai with a loud jolt and eventually ignited a fire in the engine compartment of the Hyundai. Electric wires and fire caused a real danger to Lapland and the map reader To Janne Fermi.
– Apparently there was an oil tank at the end of the pole, which splashed the oil on the car. Oil ran down the windshield into the engine room, which caught fire. I couldn’t put it out with my own fire extinguishers, Lappi recounted the dramatic situation.
– There was 30,000 volts of electricity hanging next to it, and the helmet also rattled against the wires. Fortunately Gus Greensmith came to the scene and we got a big enough fire extinguisher from him, with which I was able to extinguish the fire to some extent.
The fire department also arrived, but the firefighters were of little help.
– I had to turn it off myself when they didn’t dare to go near the car. But we got it off.
Tärsky stuck Lap’s necks. There were more mental bumps from the outing.
– It always feels miserable when you bounce. Of course, it saddens even more about such a situation (because of the competition), Lappi stated.
Lapland’s car was finally brought to Leon’s service area, where it was found that the Pieksämäki man will not be able to continue the race on Sunday.
– The safety bars are intact, and there is nothing in the wheels either. The impact came in the middle of the rear container, and the post came quite deep. It probably wasn’t too far off.