Esapekka Lappi on the verge of Rally Finland victory

Esapekka Lappi is in the box seat to breakthrough for his first WRC victory, and it’s on the biggest stage in the sport, Rally Finland.

Despite it being only his fourth start in a World Rally Car, has a commanding 49.1sec lead in his Toyota Yaris over fellow WRC newcomer Teemu Suninen aboard an M-Sport Ford Fiesta.

If Lappi takes the win on Sunday’s short final leg, he would be the sixth different winner in nine rounds.

Lappi’s day was in contrast to Toyota team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. Latvala was in the box seat starting the day in second behind Lappi, but charged to win the first five of the day’s eight stages to take an 8.5sec lead.

However, his hopes of a fourth victory on his home event ended when his Yaris ground to a halt with a suspected electrical problem midway through the famous Ouninpohja special stage, leaving Lappi clear.

“It is amazing to be leading at this moment, although I have mixed emotions as I am disappointed for Jari-Matti,” said Lappi.

“He was driving really well. I could not keep up with him without taking big risks, which I did not want to do. When I passed him, I slowed down a little bit. I am used to leading with a gap as it happened last year and I know how to manage a lead.

“I must now concentrate and keep my mind clear. I will sleep well tonight.”

Latvala was devastated by his retirement, which also ended Toyota’s hopes of a 1-2-3 finish.

“The second time through Ouninpohja started fantastically but then suddenly the car stopped, and there was nothing we could do,” said Latvala.

“It’s devastating but it’s part of motorsport. We are a young team and we know these things will happen, we have to learn from them.

“We need to find the problem and fix it and then the target tomorrow is to try to do the maximum performance in the Power Stage.”

There was a huge fight behind Lappi for the remaining podium places. Suninen, starting only his second event in a World Rally Car, lost position after his Ford Fiesta overshot a chicane but climbed to second after overhauling Juho Hanninen (Toyota) in the penultimate test.

Hanninen broke his Yaris’ front anti-roll bar this afternoon and trailed Suninen by 4.3sec in an all-Finnish top three. Elfyn Evans was only 1.3sec behind in fourth after an impressive drive in his Fiesta which culminated in a final stage win.

Craig Breen could not retain his overnight fourth after struggling for rhythm in his Citroen C3 and surviving a spin and an overshoot. The Irishman was 14.7sec clear of title challenger Thierry Neuville, who aimed to capitalise on absent championship leader Sebastien Ogier.

Ogier did not restart morning after yesterday’s heavy crash. Co-driver Julien Ingrassia was signed off from competing for 15 days by medical chiefs after being diagnosed with mild concussion.

“It is safer for Julien to rest for two weeks and not jump into the car so soon,” said Ogier.

“It’s a shame but health comes first and I want him to recover as perfectly as possible. We both fully intend to fight back in Germany.”

Ott Tanak recovered to seventh after yesterday’s puncture, passing Kris Meeke in the final stage when the Ulsterman also suffered a flat tyre and dropped almost a minute. Dani Sordo was ninth and Mads Ostberg 10th, despite crashing into a ditch and damaging his brakes.

New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon re-entered his Hyundai after failing to finish Friday’s leg. However, like yesterday he couldn’t complete the day after again damaging suspension.

“There was nothing we could do about our retirement today,” said Paddon.

“We were going through a blind left, into a right, when all of a sudden I caught sight of a big football-sized rock in the road. In the split-second it took to see it, and I knew it would do damage.

“We could not avoid it and it broke the suspension arm.

“The real shame is the lack of mileage from this rally. We will be back out on Sunday to try and end this weekend on a high note.”

Sunday’s final leg features two identical loops of two short stages south of Jyvaskyla covering 33.84km. The rally-ending Oittila is the live TV Power Stage, with bonus points available to the fastest five drivers.

VIDEO: Morning Stages

VIDEO: Afternoon Stages

POSITIONS: Rally Finland – Leg 2