LAPPI’S WRC2 TRIUMPH LEAVES HIM WITH ANGUISH
Cracks are emerging in WRC2, supposedly the place to be for career-minded drivers doing good things in Rally2 cars.
The best driver (Esapekka Lappi) is out of cash, the second-best driver (Andreas Mikkelsen) is out of action with Covid-19, while Ole Christian Veiby, who is not necessarily the next in line but is no slouch, is out for the season after he was banned for breaching Covid-19 protocol in the build-up to last week’s rally.
Lappi’s financial plight is perhaps a good thing as far as his rivals are concerned, however. His Portugal victory was his second from as many starts and he was often out of reach after 2.2s had covered the top three following leg one.
“In strange times it is not so easy to get sponsors,” said Lappi, once a
WRC event-winning factory driver. “I will try but there is no guarantee we will continue. But if you give me one million euros, then I can do, no problem.”
Teemu Suninen was Lappi’s biggest threat on the gravel stages in an M-Sport Fiesta. But he was more than 1m40s behind at the finish after he was delayed in Mads Ostberg’s dust when the Norwegian punctured on Friday morning before he suffered a puncture of his own on Saturday afternoon.
Ostberg battled back to third position after his early delays, inheriting the final podium spot from Nikolay Gryazin when the Russian’s Volkswagen Polo faltered on day two, as an overshoot and stall cost Oliver Solberg a shot at third.