The team principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala, believes that Esapekka Lappi did enough at Rally Finland to deserve a seat in the next year's line-up of Toyota teasing that there will be an announcement soon.
EP returned in the main category of WRC after a ten-month absence as he could not find a seat in a WRC team this season, but he secured an outing in Finland with the fifth Yaris WRC.
The Finn driver finished fourth overall in Finland and he scored three extra points in Powerstage staying out of trouble through all the weekend.
Last week's Rally Finland was a test drive for Lappi as his performance would have determined his future in WRC and more specifically if he will continue as a Toyota driver next season.
It is tipped that Lappi will share the third Yaris with Sebastien Ogier in 2022 according to the rumors have been released the last few months.
"We said that if he can be in the top five that would be enough", Latvala told DirtFish.
"He was fourth overall and did a great powerstage.
"For me, that is the performance that we wanted and in my eyes, that is enough now that I personally would propose for him to be part of our driver line-up for next year.
"But the decision will be made in Japan, so I can propose, but they will decide.
"I can tell you that we will hear news during this month, but they will decide in Japan".
Finally, he answered when he was ssked if he expected Toyota’s 2022 drivers to be Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanpera, Ogier and Lappi: "It’s likely, but still there is even the possibility for changes".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Toyota
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