Analysis
Pajari enters Paraguay in strong WRC Title contention
Finnish driver Sami Pajari heads to Rally Paraguay second in the WRC standings, 30 points behind Elfyn Evans, after two wins.
Finnish driver Sami Pajari arrives at Rally Paraguay with significant momentum, having won the last two World Rally Championship events. These victories have elevated him to second in the drivers' standings, 30 points behind Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team teammate Elfyn Evans with four rounds remaining.
Momentum After Double Victory
Pajari secured his maiden WRC win at Rally Estonia. He followed this immediately with another victory on home soil at Rally Finland. These consecutive triumphs have placed him firmly in the championship battle. RallyJournal reported Pajari spent time enjoying his achievements before shifting focus to the upcoming South American events. He stated, “Since Rally Finland it’s been nice to have some time to really enjoy and appreciate what we’ve achieved recently before we refocus on the coming rallies in South America.”
Rally Paraguay Challenge
Rally Paraguay, the 11th round of the 2026 season, is a relatively new addition to the WRC calendar, having joined last year. Pajari finished sixth in its inaugural running. He noted the enthusiasm of local fans and the nature of the stages. “It was great to go to Paraguay for the first time last year and see the excitement of all the fans there. It’s quite a nice rally to drive with really fast roads and some big jumps, which I always enjoy,” Pajari told RallyJournal.
The gravel roads of Paraguay present a varied challenge. They feature both high-speed sections and more technical, twisty stretches. Rain can also significantly worsen surface conditions, making the rally particularly difficult. Pajari highlighted this by stating, “There are also some really twisty sections and if it rains, the surface can become crazy slippery.”
Consistent Approach for Title Push
Despite his recent success and elevated championship position, Pajari intends to maintain his established approach. He communicated this to RallyJournal, saying, “Our recent results don’t change our approach for this event; we just have to continue trying to do the best job possible and hopefully we can keep achieving good results.” Rally Paraguay runs from August 27–30 and is the first of two consecutive South American gravel rallies.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Analysis, which means this is our reading of facts that are already established. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- RallyJournalrallyjournal.com
