Esappeka Lappi will join his team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen in the squad for the May 19-21 event, driving a third Yaris WRC at the start of a limited programme of WRC rounds, which will be selected according to development requirements.
The car has performed well since its debut on Rallye Monte-Carlo, and was driven to victory by Latvala on just its second event in Sweden in February, but TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is continuing to learn during the first season of the WRC project. With the team having collected plenty of data from the previous events, adding a third car when needed will help to accelerate the development of the Yaris WRC.
Lappi, who is one of the brightest prospects in rallying and last year won the WRC 2 title, joined TOYOTA GAZOO Racing prior to the 2017 season and has got to know the Yaris WRC well during testing. Through real competition, the 26-year-old Finn will be able to gain further experience to keep him match-fit.
Esapekka Lappi Highlights
Date of birth: 17 January 1991
Age: 26 years old
Nationality: Finnish
2007: Karting Finnish Champion
2008: Rally sprint (won all the rounds)
2009: First rally
2011: First WRC rally (Rally Finland, Rookie of the Year award)
2012: Finnish Rally Champion (won all the rounds)
2013: First WRC 2 victory in Vodafone Rally de Portugal
2014: FIA ERC Champion
2016: WRC 2 World Rally Champion (5 wins)
WRC 2 Statistics
WRC 2 starts: 17, Victories: 7, Podiums: 11,
Points scored: 245, Stage wins: 126