Sami Pajari has stated that his primary goal for Rally Finland is simply to complete the event, rather than to focus on making a splash on the timing screens during his highly anticipated World Rally Championship debut.
Toyota has promoted the highly regarded WRC2 contenders Pajari and co-driver Enni Malkonen to Rally1 equipment for their home event, which features fast gravel roads in Finland this weekend.
Pajari has long been recognized as a promising talent for Toyota, impressing throughout the year to currently hold second place in the WRC2 title standings, with victories in both Sardinia and Poland.
While he acknowledges that his journey has led to this moment, Pajari insists that he feels no pressure to replicate Martins Sesks’ success, who shone after stepping up to Rally1 and secured a fifth-place finish in Poland before contending for a podium in Latvia earlier this month.
“For me, it feels like a pivotal moment. I don’t mean it in the sense that I need to achieve a particular result, but it’s an opportunity to truly gauge my capabilities with the Rally1 car for the first time,” said Pajari, who has managed two and a half days of testing in the GR Yaris Rally1 to prepare.
“This has been a longstanding dream and a well-thought-out plan throughout my career development, marking a significant milestone for me.”
“I believe there’s no specific outcome we aim for. There’s no kind of pressure on me to perform at a particular level or to achieve certain results or stage times.”
Sami Pajari, Enni Mälkönen, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“My aim is to finish the rally and receive the full experience of the event, allowing me to improve and prepare for what lies ahead.”
“Naturally, it’s unreasonable to expect to be in contention for a win right from the outset. If I can have a solid experience, acquire a good feeling and rhythm in the car, and enjoy the event, I believe my times will improve.”
“I expect Finland to be more challenging. Although I’m quite familiar with the stages, it’s a different story driving these cars.”
This sentiment is echoed by his Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, who does not anticipate Pajari to match Sesks’ standout performance in Latvia.
“I don’t anticipate Sami to reach the same level that Martins Sesks achieved in Latvia,” Latvala, who will also compete in a GR Yaris Rally2, told Autosport/Motorsport.com.
“This is a different scenario; it’s Sami’s first event and [the competition in Latvia was largely new to the drivers other than Sesks]. Competing in Finland involves experienced top drivers, placing you at a disadvantage.”
“I’ve advised Sami to get acclimated to the car, absorb the experience, and understand how the Rally1 operates—things happen faster. This will benefit him in the long run.”
“If you were aiming for an immediate factory seat in Finland, you’d likely need to finish in the top three or win. Don’t view it from that perspective; the focus should be on gaining experience, and there will hopefully be more opportunities next year.”
