Last week’s Rally Chile Bio Bío marked the 90th and final WRC start for co-driver Janne Ferm, signing off a career that saw him celebrate two victories, 15 podiums, and 77 stage wins.
With fellow Finn Esapekka Lappi over the past 15 years, Ferm’s journey began at home in Finland contesting national rallies in a humble Honda Civic Type-R before rising through the ranks together.
After claiming the WRC2 title with Škoda Motorsport in 2016, Ferm and Lappi made their breakthrough in 2017 when they joined Toyota Gazoo Racing for an eight-round WRC campaign.
Just four rallies in, they secured their maiden victory on home soil at Rally Finland, a highlight of their early years.
It wasn’t until Rally Sweden this year, an agonizing six years after their first victory that the pair returned to the top step of the podium.
“[Reitrement] was already on my mind since last year,” Ferm told WRC.com, “but when EP [Lappi] said that we could do a part-time season [in 2024], I said this would be okay. But now it’s time to move away.
“I love the sport and I love the people around it, but there is a lot of travelling that you are doing.
“It felt good that [we] are doing a part-time season. This year I have had the chance to be spectating on rallies and it has been a blast.
“It’s amazing to see the people doing absolutely incredible things with the cars, and I have been privileged to be sitting in one of the WRC cars and doing that. Now, I have a family, so I want to spend more time with them.
“Probably my biggest memory is when I met EP for the first time,” he continued.
“After that, we have been in the marriage for 15 years. Okay, the marriage is not ending, we are just, like they say, living under separate departments after this.
“You cannot regret anything. Life is too short for that.”
What this means for Lappi’s career, is unclear, but with Hyundai re-considering its strategy of running a shared third car, is this the end of the road for the likable Finn as well?
