Esapekka Lappi admits that Toyota's offer was his last chance to make his return to the World Rally Championship and he is trying to feel relaxed this year.
The Finn driver did not manage to secure a contract with a WRC team for 2021, therefore he participated only in one event last year as a privateer and he drove a Toyota Yaris WRC in Finland while he made two outings in WRC2 class with a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
Since Sebastien Ogier decided to have a part-season program in 2022, Toyota had to choose another driver who would share the third car with the first one and eventually chose Lappi for this seat.
Lappi made his WRC debut with Toyota back in 2017 and achieved one win with the Toyota Yaris WRC as he won his home event in 2017.
He stayed with Toyota until the end of 2018 as he joined Citroen in 2019 for two years, but, after Citroen's departure from WRC at the end of 2019, EP signed a contract with M-Sport for 2020.
"I have a lot of experience in the sport already", Lappi said.
"I think I have shown what I can do, it’s not about proving myself.
"It’s kind of crazy to think where I was 12 months ago and where I am now – it’s such a short time.
"For me this is the second chance and, I guess, the last chance.
"If you get really excited about things then you can take some more pressure and that can make it more difficult.
"It’s best to stay calm.
"The last year has helped.
"Now I just want to enjoy the sport.
"We’ve had maybe one and a half years at home with the pandemic and that makes you understand the life outside of the sport.
"Rallying is my passion and it’s important to me, but there are other things in life – my family – which are as well very important.
"I have a good balance at the moment and in my head it’s good.
"I’m going to enjoy this second chance a lot".
Source: wrc.com
Photo Credits: Toyota
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