WRC Safari: Rebound attempt for Lappi, Hyundai

Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi is on a mission this week when he returns to Kenya for his second consecutive Safari Rally appearance with Hyundai.

The 33 year old, though wearing a smile early Sunday during his first media engagement in the country at Caetano Kenya, couldn’t help but express his need to make amends from a 12th placed finish last year.

Coming off his second career win - which came in Rally Sweden exactly six years, six months and 19 days since his first victory in Finland in 2017 - Lappi, instead of focusing on the “good feeling” that the success brought, opted to look forward to a race he thinks will be “interesting and scary.”

“I think I am in a way better place right now than I was last year,” Lappi, who will partner with co-driver Janne Ferm, said of his preparations for the 28-31 March event.

“Based on our performance last year, there is a lot of work that I have done to get myself ready … from watching on-board videos to trying to learn other drivers’ lines.

“We’ve also managed as a team to do two simulation tests and it's easier because we try to learn while knowing what to expect.”

Answering a question on damage to his propeller shaft that dented his winning chances last year, he added: “It has been fixed, it's okay now.”

Hyundai currently top the WRC constructors’ championship following their opening two wins this season in Monte Carlo and Sweden, a prospect that adds more belief to Lappi and his team.

“Small details have been key to us," he said. "With a new Team Principal (Cyril Abiteboul) I think we’ve done well, and had no issues since making some changes in December. Ultimately winning it all is what we are aiming for."

On what a win last month could do to him going to a race that he described “entirely the same bar one super stage”, Lappi added: “Of course it gives you such a confidence boost. Not just to me, but to the team that their driver can deliver. However, I try to forget whatever happened in the previous race as fast as possible and start from scratch.”

WRC Safari: Lappi insists Sweden win won't impact approach to Safari,

Such is the defiant nature Lappi is approaching the Safari with, that he was quick to remind everyone of his affinity to "hard fights" synonymous with his other win in 2017 - that he enjoys more than "the survival race" on ice in Värmland,

A big week for him and his team begins on Thursday, when flag-off happens at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), ahead of the classic event whose weather could add more spice.