He is Finland’s only hope in the World Rally Championship

Sami Pajar’s rally career has been strongly on the rise. PDO

For the general public Sami Pajari is an even more strange name, but rally professionals have registered the talented 22-year-old from Lahti a long time ago.

– Of course we are interested in how Sami develops. We also have to think about the future, if only Sébastien Ogier retire. We still need drivers in the future, Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala said.

– When you look at the age, experience and speed of the drivers last season, Pajar had the greatest potential.

Of course, Latvala is speaking through his employer’s mouth. Pajari switched from Škoda Fabia to Toyota Yaris for this season.

– We are really satisfied and happy that we see a potential Finn at Toyota.

Pajari himself does not shy away from exaggerations.

– I don’t feel any pressure from them. It has definitely gone well. I try to go as far as possible in my career, Pajari smiles to Iltalehte.

The youngster from Lahti arrived at the Riviera a good week before the start of the actual race.

– The sun is shining, but there are no warm readings here yet. Coming from Finland, this feels very warm.

– We drove a test for this race already in December. Yes, time flies, Pajari describes the workload.

“The championship would help”

Pajari knows that the dream of moving up to the main rally class does not depend solely on results.

Much more is needed for that.

– The championship would help. It would be a clear merit that could make things possible.

The fact is that the champions of previous years Andreas Mikkelsen (2021 and 2023) and Emil Lindholm (2022) are still waiting for their chance in the main class.

– A single rally victory can come as a gift, while in another the top three are within a few seconds. The results do not directly tell the whole truth.

– That’s why the championship is not an independent value that the team managers would give the most weight to.

Pajari speaks in a calm voice. So far, the career has progressed according to schedule. He still doesn’t want to give any clear timetable for the jump to the controls of the WRC cannon.

– Every year progress has been made, and a clear development can be seen. At the same time, the goal becomes clearer: one fine day to drive in Rally1 and succeed there.

– That’s where we’ve gone now. There is only one step forward. It is not known whether it will be in a year or two or three.

The transition from Škoda to Toyota was a big decision. The Japanese brand was not previously involved in the Rally2 class, but is now seriously going to challenge the Czech pride.

– I see no reason why Toyota would not be ready to win. But whatever the car is in Rally2, you just have to succeed and be an interesting driver. The results speak for themselves.

Pajari drove to the podium four times in last year’s Rally2 series, and he won a couple of times Enni Mälkönen with the Finnish World Cup competition.

Difficult for Finns

Monte Carlo is a surprisingly difficult race for blue and white drivers. The previous Finnish winner of Monte, driven as a World Rally Championship, must be searched 18 years ago (Marcus Grönholm 2006).

– I would say that it is a challenging rally for everyone just because of the road conditions. Choosing the right tire is always a bit of a lottery, Pajari admits.

– This is the most legendary race in the entire series and always the first of the season, so really expected. At the same time, it is also one of the most difficult rallies of all.

Rally fans will now have to wait for the battle for victory in the general competition without a Finnish representative.

– It’s a bummer. However, I believe that Monte Carlo is still an exciting race to watch from the couch.

Pajari puts his words carefully when asked about his own goal on the mountain roads of the Maritime Alps.

– I promise to do my best. But I don’t want to dig a hole for myself by saying that we are definitely going to win.