26-year old FIA WRC2 world champion, Esapekka Lappi, is to make his debut in the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team at Rally of Portugal (May 19-21), as the promised third member alongside Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hanninen.   

Esapekka Lappi (right) and co-driver Janne Ferm.This will be exactly six months after Rally Australia, his last competition appearance, since when he has been engaged in TGR’s testing work.  

The team stated he is to drive in a “limited programme of WRC rounds, which will be selected according to development requirements”.  

Lappi has an enviable history of first time appearances.  The first time he rallied a Fiesta S2000, he won the Finland championship Riihimaki Rally in his native Finland.  

The first time he drove as a factory drive for Skoda Motorsport, he won the 2012 Rajd Polski in a Fabia S2000.
 
- Martin Holmes

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