Ferm recalls ERC highs after calling time on co-driving career

Ferm was co-driving Lappi when they won Rally Poland in 2012 (pictured below), their first ERC appearance, before they took the coveted title in 2014, which they used as a springboard to a hugely successful FIA World Rally Championship career.  

“We get the opportunity from Škoda to participate in Poland,” said Ferm, who took two wins and 15 podiums in 90 WRC starts alongside Lappi. “We were having a very good season in Finland, we were winning everything, so the boost was there. We won it and after that we get the Škoda deal.”  

Ferm continued: “We were learning so much in ERC, Craig Breen was driving in the ERC back then, looking back it was a big thing, we were already focusing to be in WRC and the ERC helped us to progress further.”

Paying tribute to Ferm, Lappi said: “He’s been the older brother in the car, he’s 10 years older than me and he always taught me to think positively. We are really close friends so it’s not only a working relationship and I am sure we will sit in a rally car together again in the future, but not professionally.”  

Ferm’s current team boss, Hyundai Motosport head Cyril Abiteboul, added: “I would like to extend my congratulations to Janne on a fantastic career in rallying, and wish him all the best in his retirement. He is a character like no other and he will be dearly missed by everyone in the team.”  

The 2024 ERC season reaches its climax in Poland next week when Rally Silesia takes place from 11 - 13 October.   

Rally Poland photo: Janusz Szymanek/Rajdpolski.pl