The stage is set for Skoda driver Esapekka Lappi at the season finale of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC): The Finn’s path to winning the title is clear after his brand colleague Sepp Wiegand is no longer able to take part in the legendary “Tour de Corse” after his car caught fire during testing…
November 04, 2014
The stage is set for Skoda driver Esapekka Lappi at the season finale of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC): The Finn’s path to winning the title is clear after his brand colleague Sepp Wiegand is no longer able to take part in the legendary “Tour de Corse” after his car caught fire during testing before the event.
For the third time in a row, a driver of the successful Skoda Fabia Super 2000 model will be added to the list of ERC champions.
“I feel really bad for Sepp Wiegand and Frank Christian, we were looking forward to the thrilling ŠKODA battle for the title with our fiercest rivals,” said Lappi: “We now need to single-handedly try to round off this successful season for ŠKODA on Corsica. After our third victory this season in Switzerland, naturally we are very confident heading to Corsica.” Wiegand will be crossing his fingers for his brand colleague Lappi at the rally: “I’m very disappointed. I’m really sorry that the slip-up had such drastic consequences – I’m also sorry for the whole team,” he said visibly dejected. “I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard to give us the chance to still be fighting for the title here.” Some consolation for the 23-year-old German is that he is still in with a chance of finishing second in the overall standings, which would mean a ŠKODA one-two victory.