Esapekka Lappi admits that he knew when his season would end three months ago and is being confident that he hopes that he will secure a drive with Toyota for 2023.
The Japanese team announced earlier this week that Sebastien Ogier will compete in the last three rounds of this year's World Rally Championship which means that Esapekka's Lappi season is over and will not participate in another event.
However, the team principal of Toyota, Jari-Matti Latvala, had said that his team wants to retain its current driver line-up for next year, therefore it is expected that Ogier and Lappi will share the third GR Yaris Rally1 while Kalle Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans will have a full-season programme.
Finally, Takamoto Katsuta is tipped to continue racing for the second team of Toyota which is named "Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT NG".
"I’ve been knowing about it for quite a while", Lappi said.
"We have been discussing the programme from earlier in the season and I think it was agreed in May or June that Séb wants to do the last three events, so there’s no drama from that.
"There are two sides to driving part-time.
"I think it’s a good balance between family and professional life.
"On the other hand, when I got back-to-back rallies - like the last four in a row - I felt that it influenced me and I actually felt better every time I sat in the car.
"In terms of that, yes, it would be nice to have more events because I’m sure we could go ahead step-by-step all the time.
"Now it’s going to be a long break if I can continue again next year, so in that way it’s not good.
"But, like I said, there are two sides to this.
"I’m feeling positive.
"If I am feeling positive and I want to stay in the team and then Jari-Matti is saying he wants me in the team, I think that is a good combination.
"I’m feeling pretty confident that we can stay, but about the programme, I don’t know anything at all.
"We just have to wait and see".
Source: wrc.com
Photo Credits: Toyota
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