Esapekka Lappi and Karter Enni Mälkönen went to the fell rally as pre-favorites in the SM1 class, even though this is the debut of the duo.
Micke Suopuro,
Timo Uusitalo
The compilation of the Tunturiralli, the Rally Championship 2, will be seen on Sunday, February 2, at 5:30 pm on TV2 and Arena.
The Finnish Championship Rally Championship got a bright additional two when the World Series was left without a stable Esapekka Lapland Only a couple of weeks ago he revealed that he was gasping in the rest of the season in six races.
Her and the co -driver Enni Mälkönen The debut rally is a fell rally in Rovaniemi, where Lapland presents his driving skills on snow and ice on Skoda Fabia, a rally2 car of the previous generation of Skoda.
This is an older equipment than other top drivers in the series.
– Feel good. This is always a sweet place in Rovaniemi, which I like anyway. But then still in the rally, so what didn’t, Lapland rejoiced before the race began.
Last time Lapland was running a full Finnish Championship in 2012. Lappi won every race this season and celebrated the championship at the end of the season Janne Fermin with.
– Fortunately, Janne is still revolving around. Enn’s rhythm came in a familiar way in the tests. We have gloomy well.
In the fell rally, Pieksämäki last performed in 2021, when it was part of the World Rally Calendar. At that time, Lapland took the first place in the WRC2 class.
“Fun in the main thing”
Esapekka Lappi said she would have fun for the fell rally.
– Fun. It’s the main goal. Enjoy this beloved sport, but still professionally. Still, we won’t be fooling around by any means. We are seriously and full, Lapland outlines.
– Now, in a way, the circle is closing, which is why I sometimes fell in love with this species. And now it is utilized completely without any pressure.
According to Lapland, the SM series went on one proposal at the AKK event a couple of weeks ago.
– It immediately started to feel good for a good idea. For a few calls later, the idea already affected the positive and perhaps possible of power.
– You have to thank everyone who is involved here now. I have not seen anyone face to face, and I did not go to spoon negotiations. Everything was handled by calls. Great throwing from our RTE Motorsport group and from partners, says Lapland.
A new co -driver
Map reader Enni Mälkönen’s face in the Rovaniemi depot also had a wide smile.
– I just said this is a bit like sitting on my own bench. Smiled quite a lot.
Lapland admits that after Fermi, it has been a bit strange when she has read her notes from Monday’s high voice.
Mälkönen worked for the previous couple of seasons for the World Championships this season to drive to Toyota Sami Pajarin as a co -driver.
Towards the end of last year, Mälkönen and Pajari reached second in the Japanese rally, with the duo secured the WRC2 Series Championship.
After that, they announced that they would not continue together after the season, which caused quite a lot of publicity in public. Pajari later apologized for his announcement.
The new rally cooperation in Lapland and Mälkönen has only been Tivi for a week and a half, when Lapland contacted him for the SM series.
– Well, it didn’t take long for me to think about it, it sounded like a pretty fun idea right away.
From the cartoonist’s point of view, he has clear tunes.
– The scale is quite familiar. Quite similar to what I’m used to. I watched the old In-Car videos of Esapekka and Janne. From there, I tried to mimic about how Janne’s notes are slipping, Mälkönen explains.
Reindeer horns in mind
Lapland admitted in advance that they may be on paper pre -favorites to fight the reindeer horns (winning prize).
– The rally is an experience and a sustainability competition, everything can happen. I don’t consider it (profit) for granted.
The sensation of Friday’s opening day was 18 years old Tuukka Kauppinenleading 2.8 seconds before Esapekka Lapland with its Toyota Yaris Rally2 car.
Lapland was saddened by his tire choices, too high studs, but promised that the victory would not come off easily on Saturday to Kauppinen.
1. Tuukka Kauppinen, Toyota 50.23,1
2. Esapekka Lapland, Skoda +2,8
3. Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota +25.6
4. Teemu Asunmaa, Skoda +43.4
5. Roope Korhonen, Toyota +47.6
6. Anssi Rytkönen, Skoda +49.1
7. Mikko Eskelinen, Ford +1.30,9
8. Niclas Grönholm, Skoda +1.37,1
9. Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota +1.43,8
Kalle Rovanperä had to dodge the viewer at the opening EK and drove out. However, Rovanperä was able to continue, and the jury later gave Rovanperä a deferred time of 12.6 seconds in Lapland’s time. In this way, Rovanperä rose third from the 36 farm.