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15 WRC crashes: Finnish locals help stricken rally drivers

<i> Image: Youtube </i>
<i> Image: Youtube </i>

Jyvskyl - Esapekka Lappi earned his first WRC victory with a fantastic win at the Finland Rally, his home race. He finished ahead of Elfyn Evans and compatriot Juho Hanninen.

Thierry Neuville took the world championship lead from Sebastien Ogier despite finishing only sixth.

15 crashes

Ogier had been forced to abandon the race on Friday following a crash and scored no points.

Finishing sixth in the race and third in the power stage, he grabbed 11 points to draw level with Ogier on 160, and goes ahead by virtue of three rally victories to two this season.

Lappi was competing in only his fourth rally. He won a special in his second rally, in Sardinia, and now just four races into his career has claimed his home rally too.

The 26-year-old led at the end of Friday's eight specials before losing the lead to Toyota team-mate and compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala.

Latvala broke down on the 19th stage, ending his hopes of a fourth victory in the Rally of Finland, and Lappi never looked back.

Watch: 10 Rolls & 5 accidents from the Päijälä stage

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