Motorsports

Pajari makes it three

Published

3 hours ago

September 1, 2026

ENCARNACIÓN, Paraguay | Sami Pajari cut Elfyn Evans’ World Rally Championship lead to 20 points after securing his third straight victory at Rally del Paraguay on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Finn and co-driver Marko Salminen completed the punishing gravel rally 25.8 seconds ahead of Hayden Paddon and John Kennard in a Hyundai i20 N Rally1.

Third-placed Sami Pajari (R) and his co-driver Marko Salminen (L) of Finland raise their trophies during the podium ceremony of the Rally Japan, the 13th round of the FIA World Rally Championships, in Toyota city, Aichi prefecture on November 9, 2025. (Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA)

Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria placed third for Hyundai, while Evans and Scott Martin brought their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 home in fourth.

Pajari’s victory followed his maiden WRC triumph in Estonia and another win in Finland. Pajari and Salminen are the first crew in WRC history to record their first three victories in consecutive rounds.

Sami Pajari of Finland and his co-driver Marko Salminen of Finland drive their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 during the SS11 Ena section of the Rally Japan, the 7th round of the FIA World Rally Championships in Toyota city, Aichi prefecture on May 30, 2026. (Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA)

The Toyota pair led after Friday’s opening leg and kept their advantage through the changing grip and rutted red gravel around Encarnación. Punctures affected several crews throughout the rally, but Pajari avoided the major delays that hit some of his rivals.

“It was not an easy rally, not easy for the drivers, but nevertheless not easy for the team,” Pajari said.

Sami Pajari of Finland and his co-driver Marko Salminen of Finland drive their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on the traditional Japanese townscape of Iwamura during the Rally Japan, the 7th round of the FIA World Rally Championships in Ena city, Gifu prefecture on May 30, 2026. (Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA)

The result lifted Pajari to second in the drivers’ standings after 11 of 14 rounds. Evans continues to lead the championship, while Oliver Solberg sits another 21 points behind Pajari in third.

“We are still trying to do the best we can in the championship, which is also not going too bad at the moment, so happy for that,” Pajari said.

The championship moves to Chile on September 10 to 13 before the final rounds in Italy and Saudi Arabia.