Esapekka Lappi – flying at Rally Portugal

European Champion Esapekka Lappi (FIN) second, and team-mate Pontus Tidemand (S) in third: ŠKODA celebrated a brilliant WRC debut with its new Fabia R5 at the Rally de Portugal.

May 26, 2015

European Champion Esapekka Lappi (FIN) second, and team-mate Pontus Tidemand (S) in third: ŠKODA celebrated a brilliant WRC debut with its new Fabia R5 at the Rally de Portugal.

Esapekka, co-driver Janne Ferm and new Skoda Fabia R5 showed signs of its great potential with its first five stage best times in the WRC 2 category of the FIA World Rally Championship. There was excitement once again in the battle for the win in WRC 2 on the final day, when Lappi finished 41.0 seconds faster than front-runner Nasser Al-Attiyah (Q) on the penultimate special stage “Vieira do Minho”. However, the Dakar winner brought home a 12.0-second advantage over European Champion Lappi in the overall standings.

– We are delighted with second place, after all it was our first ever rally in the ŠKODA Fabia R5. Our new tool was convincing in all conditions here in Portugal – whether on gravel or on the short asphalt sections, said “Flying Finn” Lappi, full of praise, who got the fastest time in the WRC 2 category on five stages.

– It’s brilliant starting in the WRC again. The atmosphere was fantastic. Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined all 15 of the special stages at the Rally Portugal, with the absolute highlight being the legendary “Fafe” stage with its massive jump on Sunday. Lappi ended the day with another best time here.