Sami Pajari delivered the biggest victory of his career on Sunday by winning Rally Finland for the first time, delighting home fans and leading Toyota Gazoo Racing to a commanding one-two-three finish in one of the most prestigious events on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
The 24-year-old Finn entered the final day holding a comfortable 46.4-second advantage and resisted any temptation to chase additional bonus points during the closing stages. Instead, Pajari managed the rally with composure, safely navigating the final two passes of the 30.02-kilometer Himos-Jämsä stage to secure victory by 26.7 seconds over Toyota teammate Oliver Solberg.
His measured approach paid off as he crossed the finish line to claim the most emotional win of his young career. At the conclusion of the Wolf Power Stage, Pajari was greeted by Finnish rally legend Ari Vatanen, adding another memorable moment to an already unforgettable day for the home favorite.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Pajari said after securing victory. “Winning in Estonia was a big deal, but a home victory is always something very special.”
“After a truly crazy rally, we’ve done it. A huge thank you, above all, to the team, but also to all the fans for their fantastic support. It’s just incredible. Kiitos paljon — thank you very much to everyone.”
The triumph represented far more than another victory on the calendar. It lifted Pajari to second place in the World Rally Championship standings behind teammate Elfyn Evans and marked Finland’s 200th victory in World Rally Championship history. He also became the 14th Finnish driver to win Rally Finland during the modern WRC era, further cementing the country’s unmatched legacy in the sport.
Toyota’s performance was equally historic. With Evans finishing third behind Solberg, the Japanese manufacturer completed a dominant podium sweep while recording its eighth Rally Finland victory in the last nine editions. The result also gave Toyota its 11th overall victory at the event during the modern WRC era, moving one win clear of Ford as the most successful manufacturer in Rally Finland history.
Pajari’s path to victory had not been straightforward. He inherited the overall lead on Saturday afternoon after eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier crashed heavily on the Västilä special stage while leading the rally. Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia escaped the accident without assistance before precautionary medical examinations confirmed neither had suffered injuries.
The incident dramatically reshaped the battle for victory, handing Pajari the opportunity to control the closing stages. Rather than taking unnecessary risks, the young Finn concentrated on consistency, demonstrating the maturity expected of a championship contender.
Solberg once again underlined his remarkable speed despite competing under difficult physical conditions. The Swede won Sunday’s opening special stage and topped the Super Sunday classification even though he struggled with severe back pain caused by a heavy landing earlier in the rally. After receiving painkillers before the final stage, Solberg still produced a time nearly identical to Evans on the Wolf Power Stage.
Second place matched Solberg’s result from Rally Estonia, where he and Pajari also occupied the top two positions. Their growing consistency has strengthened Toyota’s position at the top of both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.
Evans completed an extraordinary recovery drive to finish third after what had appeared to be a race-ending accident on Saturday. The Welsh driver rolled his GR Yaris Rally1 during the penultimate day, but spectators helped push the damaged car back onto the road before Toyota mechanics carried out extensive repairs during the midday service.
The rebuilt car proved competitive immediately. Evans responded by setting the fastest time on the Wolf Power Stage, edging Solberg by just 0.025 seconds to collect valuable championship points despite finishing 1 minute, 19.5 seconds behind Pajari overall.
“It was a surreal situation,” Evans said. “Above all, we owe a debt of gratitude to our technicians, who repaired the car yesterday at lunchtime. We always know we can rely on these lads.”
The third-place finish allowed Evans to extend his championship lead to 30 points over Pajari. Solberg and Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta now occupy third and fourth in the standings, giving Toyota four drivers inside the championship’s leading positions.
Hyundai endured another frustrating weekend despite flashes of impressive pace. Adrien Fourmaux finished fourth after producing one of the strongest performances on the final day, but torrential rain on Friday had already compromised his chances of challenging for victory. The Frenchman ultimately crossed the finish line 16.4 seconds behind Evans.
Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville climbed to fifth after Katsuta suffered heartbreak on the final stage. The Japanese driver struck a tree during the Wolf Power Stage, severely damaging the front of his Toyota. Although Katsuta managed to reach the finish, the incident dropped him from a potential top-five result to sixth overall.
Josh McErlean delivered another encouraging performance for M-Sport Ford by finishing seventh, while Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala rounded out the top eight overall and claimed victory in the RC2 category.
In WRC2, Estonia’s Robert Virves continued his outstanding season by collecting his fourth victory in as many starts. Virves inherited the class win after Teemu Suninen received a 30-second time penalty, further strengthening his championship campaign.
The championship now pauses for its annual summer break before teams reconvene in South America for Rally del Paraguay, scheduled for Aug. 27-30. With momentum firmly on Toyota’s side and Pajari emerging as a genuine title contender following consecutive breakthrough performances, the battle for the 2026 World Rally Championship promises to intensify during the season’s final stretch.
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