The Finn Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) won the Sweden Rally on Sunday, the second round of 13 in the WRC world championship, at the end of the 17th and final special stage held on snow in Umea (north).
Lappi, engaged in a partial program this season with the South Korean brand, took advantage of the setbacks of several favorites to achieve the second victory of his career in the premier category after the Rally of Finland in 2017.
The 33-year-old driver beat the Briton Elfyn Evans (Toyota) and the surprising Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport/Ford), while the Belgian Thierry Neuville, leader of the world championship after his victory at the end of January at the Monte-Sport rally. Carlo, the inaugural round of the season, took fourth place.
Reigning double world champion Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), who decided this season to take a break from rallying and was making his WRC debut in 2024, was forced to retire after going off the road on Friday.
The Finn, who was able to restart on Saturday, consoled himself by winning the Power Stage on Sunday, thus gleaning valuable points for Toyota in the manufacturers' standings.