Hyundai driver Esapekka Lappi finds it hard to say when and how he will get over the death of his close friend. Quick decisions are expected to be made regarding what will happen with the Croatian WC rally, but Lappi believes that he is in driving condition after all.
Lappi heard about stablemate Craig Breen’s death when he was on his way to pick up his children from daycare.
– I was in the car and probably had to stop for a while at a bus stop to absorb the shock, Lappi tells Yle Urheilu.
He believes that even though a day has passed, the incident has not really cleared his mind.
– I’m not paralyzed, but I feel depressed in one way or another. I feel very sad and of course I don’t know when I will get over all this.
– He will remain forever in my memory. The incident has affected me greatly because he was a very close friend and has made me think about my own life and profession.
Rally driver Craig Breen died on Thursday after crashing during practice in Croatia. The Irishman lost his grip on the car, which then hit a lamppost.
“Unsure of what should be done”
Lappi spoke on Thursday with his stable manager. He had said that he is not currently in need of emergency assistance.
– I said that it feels okay, but of course it affects everything.
The Croatian World Cup Rally is scheduled to start on Thursday next week. Lappi believes that the decision on whether or not to run the races must be made fairly quickly.
Lappi is unaware of the timetable for the final decision. He supposes it will be before the end of the week or at the latest on Sunday, when he intends to travel to Croatia.
– I know nothing except what is worth doing. I know for sure what Craig would have wanted. That we drive. Rallying was his greatest passion and he certainly wouldn’t have wanted it not to run because of him, says Lappi.
I feel like I’m in good driving condition. Clearly, you have to invest a little extra in focus during the weekend, so that your thoughts are kept on the right things. Somehow, my brain is used to the fact that when the helmet is put on and the clutch goes up, everything else that is in the head at that moment is forgotten.
If the rally was inhibited, it would mean a huge financial loss for the organizing organization.
– If the decision were to be based on the economy, the rally would be run under any circumstances. On a human level, it’s a completely different five. Everyone knows that, unfortunately, it is often the money that decides, comments Lappi.
“Doesn’t see it as a possibility that the race would be inhibited”
The situation is difficult for the organizers of the Croatian World Cup Rally.
AKK’s branch manager Henrik Frank’s opinion is unequivocal. His opinion is that next week’s Croatian World Cup rally will run according to plan.
– I do not see it as a possibility that the race would be inhibited. This is a commercial operation and contracts and financial terms apply. I can’t say how it affects an individual athlete or even an entire team. However, I think that, for example, Hyundai has reasons that obligate participation, says Frank.
– With experience in 16 WC rallies, I dare say that the situation is terrible for the organizers.
Frank believes that WRC rally cars these days are as safe as can be. Breen suffered the worst possible misfortune.
– All vehicles that drive on four wheels under the FIA’s line directions are very safe. Rally cars have gone a step further where they have focused on side crashes. The only risk is if something gets into the car, notes Frank.
The article is a processed translation of Simo Arkko’s article Esapekka Lappi was devastated by the death of her friend – emotionally evaluates the fate of the World Rally Championship in Croatia: “I know for sure what Craig would want” as well as Sakari Lund and Pertti Lappalainen’s article A frank assessment of the fate of the World Rally Championship in Croatia after the tragedy – “I don’t see it possible that it would be cancelled” from the Finnish race manager for Yle Sports.
