Two years ago at Rally Sweden, there was a beaming smile on Esapekka Lappi’s face after successfully ending a victory drought that stretched six-and-a-half years. However, after this year’s run to sixth you could argue Lappi’s smile was even broader.
Granted, Lappi was incredibly satisfied to be immediately on the pace on his World Rally Championship return, a comeback he thought would never happen having already made peace with his WRC career ending in 2024. But there was more behind the smile.
