ENNI MALKONEN Powers Lappi’s Stress-Free WRC Return at Rally Sweden

February 26, 2026

• ENNI MALKONEN, the reigning WRC2 champion and 2022 WRC3 title winner, brought her championship-caliber expertise to a new partnership with Esapekka Lappi that’s already paying dividends. Her constant positivity and fearless approach to high-speed stages has transformed Lappi’s mindset, with the veteran driver openly crediting her energy as a driving force behind his renewed passion for rallying.
• The Finnish duo delivered as the fastest Hyundai crew at Rally Sweden, holding fifth place for most of the rally before Lappi strategically yielded the position to teammate Adrien Fourmaux for championship points. MALKONEN’s presence in the cockpit was described as transformative, with Lappi noting how she thrives on the most challenging moments – “the faster we go, and if it is flat, fifth gear and we go full sideways, that is what she likes.”
• This partnership represents more than just a successful comeback – it’s proof that bringing fresh championship talent into established teams can revitalize veteran drivers. MALKONEN’s fearless approach to rallying’s most demanding stages and her championship pedigree are exactly what we need to see more of in WRC’s top tier, and their reunion at Safari Rally Kenya can’t come soon enough.

hyundai i20 n, junior world rally championship, rally sweden, safari rally kenya