According to team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, Sami Pajari is a promising candidate for Toyota’s driver lineup in the upcoming World Rally Championship season after a remarkable Rally1 debut in Finland.
Toyota provided WRC2 title contenders Pajari and co-driver Enni Malkonen with the chance to display their skills by driving a fifth GR Yaris Rally1 car at last weekend’s Rally Finland.
The pair made a strong impression, finishing fourth overall and achieving their first stage win by clocking the fastest time on stage nine [Ruuhimaki].
Their impressive performance at the event followed a challenging start, as Pajari struggled with the difficult wet conditions on stage two, leading to a significant moment that caused damage to the rear of his car.
Latvala was impressed by Pajari’s performance over the 20 stages, noting it indicates his potential to become a full-time Rally1 driver in the future.
“They performed exceptionally well. It started off challenging in the first stage, appearing less than promising. However, he managed to regain his focus and became very competitive, even securing a fastest stage time,” Latvala told Motorsport.com.
“He demonstrates strong mental resilience, which was great to observe. He truly revealed his potential to be, let’s say, a full-time Rally1 driver.”
“Currently, his primary focus is on WRC2, as we want him to compete for the championship. He still has a shot at it, and we want him to concentrate on that. However, we are also having discussions about his options for next year.”
Sami Pajari, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
While Toyota has not yet announced its complete driver lineup for the coming year, Kalle Rovanpera has signed a multi-year contract which includes a return to full-time competition next season.
When asked whether Pajari is a potential candidate for next year’s team, Latvala responded: “Yes. We certainly need to consider it.”
Pajari expressed satisfaction with his performance in Rally Finland but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement.
“It’s hard to pinpoint just one emotion,” Pajari remarked. “I’m incredibly satisfied with our strong performance, and achieving this result in my first Rally1 event is quite commendable. Winning a stage is the icing on the cake. Yet, I see many areas where I can improve. There’s always room to do better.”
“My feelings are somewhat mixed. While the result is impressive, the fact that Kalle retired while leading on the second-to-last stage makes it hard for me to feel completely happy about it, especially considering the significant loss for both the team and Kalle. However, this illustrates just how tricky this rally was, as numerous drivers encountered issues.”
Pajari expressed his desire to return to Rally1 “very soon” but remains dedicated to contending for the WRC2 title.
“I hope to be back in a Rally1 car soon; driving it for a week was incredible, and I am eager to get back behind the wheel as quickly as I can,” he noted.
“The primary goal this season is to complete the full WRC2 campaign, and we are still in a strong position for the championship.”
