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Remembering when… another 21-year-old won on his ERC ŠKODA debut

Ralfs Sirmacis' victory on the SEAJETS Acropolis Rally wasn't the first time a 21-year-old claimed victory on the FIA European Rally Championship on their first appearance in a ŠKODA Fabia.

Now widely considered one of the very hottest prospects in rallying, Esapekka Lappi burst onto the scene with victory on Rally Poland in 2012. The Finn was making his first appearance in the ERC, as well as his debut for the factory ŠKODA Motorsport team in one of the firm's Fabia S2000 cars.

The Finn won in dominant fashion, earning a permanent deal with ŠKODA and going on to win the ERC title in 2014.

Lappi was 21 years and 257 days old when he claimed victory in Poland. Sirmacis was just 88 days older when he won in Greece earlier this month, yet while Lappi had a season of S2000 machinery in Finland under his belt prior to his ERC bow, the Latvian was competing in an R5 car for the first time after graduating from the ERC Junior Championship.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com