Intro:

Finland's Esapekka Lappi wins Rally Liepaja in Latvia

Script:

Esapekka Lappi began his 2014 FIA European Rally Championship campaign in style with a thrilling victory in the Latvian ice and snow on Sunday.

Young Russian star Vasily Gryazin earned the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy after he finished second overall behind Lappi.

Former F1 driver Robert Kubica landed the coveted ERC Ice Master award after the points he scored winning the ERC season-opener in Austria proved sufficient.

The Pole, who wasn't competing in Latvia, still tops the ERC drivers' standings, albeit now level on 39 points with Lappi. Gryazin is two points adrift.

Driving a Skoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 on Michelin tyres, the 23-year-old Lappi began Sunday's six stages with a slender 2.6-second lead over Gryazin.

But the Finn was immediately playing catch-up when Gryazin outgunned him through the morning's opening stage.

Lappi, co-driven by fellow Finn Janne Ferm, retaliated on the very next test. and Gryazin was never able to get back on terms,

But it was Lappi, already a two-time winner in the ERC, who came out on top with a 34.7 seconds winning margin at the finish.

Craig Breen finished behind Gryazin and Kajetan Kajetanowicz took fourth for LOTOS Rally Team. Wiegand finished 5th.