Esapekka Lappi will remain with Hyundai Motorsport for the 2024 World Rally Championship season, but will regress to a part-time program.
In a move that was widely expected, Lappi and co-driver Janne Ferm will join the already announced Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak who has effectively inherited Lappi’s program next season.
Lappi joined Hyundai at the start of 2023 after a year sharing a Toyota with Sébastien Ogier, and has shown some real promise.
Four podiums (including three year in a row in Croatia, Portugal and Sardinia) and rally-leading pace have been the highlights, but there have been some mishaps – not least big rally-ending crashes in México, Finland, Chile and Central Europe.
But the Finn has played a crucial role in developing Hyundai’s Rally1 challenger throughout 2023, particularly on higher speed gravel.
Hyundai is said to be “continuing its discussions with its current WRC and WRC2 drivers” and is “yet to make a final decision” on its full 2024 lineup.
Currently it has Dani Sordo and Teemu Suninen as part of its Rally1 roster, with Emil Lindholm driving in WRC2.
“We are pleased to announce the next piece of the 2024 puzzle with Esapekka and Janne remaining with our team for the season ahead,” said Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“Their role will be to support Thierry and Ott in the championship, as well as to focus on developing the car – something Esapekka has demonstrated he is particularly good at this year.
“We believe this is a formidable force that can help us achieve our goals and bring home more wins. We are still finalizing the full picture for the season ahead, and will announce our plans in due course, but for now we are delighted to have such a strong lineup at the helm of our WRC challengers.”
Lappi added: “I am very happy and grateful to continue my partnership with Hyundai Motorsport into the 2024 WRC season. I feel very comfortable in the team; we have built a fantastic connection over this past year and we have demonstrated we have the package to be successful.
“I still have the will to develop and succeed in rallying moving forward, and I would like to win with this team. Next year will certainly be different and interesting in many ways, which will motivate me to be a team player, as well as seek personal success, in a bid for a stronger season in 2024.”
