Esapekka Lappi tested Toyota in Korpilahti

On Friday, Esapekka Lappi started her preparations for next week’s Finnish World Rally Championship.

Esapekka Lappi honed her performance on the gravel roads of central Finland. Toni Heinonen

Six more nights and then it begins. The World Championship race on the gravel roads of central Finland is one of the highlights of the rally year.

The most enthusiastic rally fans tuned into the atmosphere already on Friday, when Esapekka Lappi jumped into the cockpit of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car at the team’s test area in Korpilahti. Lappi carefully collected important test kilometers and polished the competitor to race condition.

Lapland brought a Toyota with impressive driving lines, and the spectators who found it liked what they saw.

– I think we have taken the car in a better direction, Lappi told Iltalehte.

– Here in Finland, slightly different regulations are needed than in Estonia, even though it is a very similar type of competition. We have gone in a better direction, so the feeling is really good.

Now you have to succeed

Pieksämäkeläinen has driven four World Cup rallies this year in a Toyota three-car. The native “Jyskälä” is one of those competitions where a strong result is expected from Lapland.

– The podium is a good and certainly quite realistic goal if there are no problems, Lappi said.

– I could see that our basic speed should be enough for that. Everything else is a plus if we can reach higher.

The Central Finland gravel race should also suit Toyota, as the team’s hybrid car was developed on these roads. An indication of Toyota’s striking ability was obtained a couple of weeks ago in the World Rally Championship in Estonia, where the leading driver of the series Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans marched to a double victory.

Lapland trusts that Toyota will be strong next week.

– The car will certainly fit in the hands of all our team members. I hope this is the fastest car, Lappi said.

The Finnish World Cup Rally starts on Thursday of next week and ends on Sunday, August 7.

Kalle Rovanperä drove to victory in Estonia. Is the same expected on home roads?

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