Sami Pajari has received the Junior WRC and now clinched the WRC2 crown however the “exhausting work” begins now because the Finn prepares to affix the World Rally Championship elite in 2025.
Toyota has put its religion in Finland’s newest prospect to come back from its storied rally driver manufacturing line by handing the 22-year-old a full-time drive in a GR Yaris Rally1 automotive subsequent 12 months.
Pajari joins an expanded Toyota driver line-up stacked with expertise headlined by the return of two-time world champion and countryman Kalle Rovanpera to a full-time drive. It additionally consists of four-time WRC runner-up Elfyn Evans, eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier and a number of podium finisher Takamoto Katsuta.
Pajari’s inventory as a rally driver has been on a gradual rise since profitable the 2021 Junior WRC title and this 12 months has proved to be a breakout season.
Final weekend he and co-driver Enni Malkonen wrapped up the WRC2 title, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, with a measured drive to complete second in Japan, his sixth podium, together with three wins, from his seven factors scoring outings.
His success already earned him three Rally1 outings (Finland, Chile, Central Europe) for Toyota the place his expertise was instantly recognised with a run to fourth on house soil at Rally Finland, that included a maiden stage win on his prime flight debut.
Sami Pajari, Enni Mälkönen, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
Photograph by: McKlein / Motorsport Photos
However subsequent 12 months marks the realisation of a dream to grow to be a completely fledged full-time manufacturing unit driver within the WRC, a feat he’s nonetheless coming to phrases with.
“I feel it’s going to take time to essentially really feel it a bit extra however for the second I’m tremendous joyful about it,” Pajari informed Autosport.
”It’s one thing I’ve been dreaming for my complete life to be in a works automotive and attain the highest of the game. That is one thing I’ve been chasing and been engaged on for the final eight years throughout my profession.
“It was at all times the plan to achieve this level however it’s not really easy so it is going to be exhausting. It’s good to achieve this level however I additionally consider that the exhausting work begins now. It’s good to make it however the competitors is so robust that if you wish to make it, it received’t be simple.”
Pajari’s mindset is spot on.
He’s proved his potential to win championships in decrease courses and his velocity in a Rally1 automotive, however subsequent 12 months will supply a real litmus take a look at. In response to the Finn he feels the subsequent process will probably be to totally modify to life in a Rally1 automotive, a prospect which will offer a new challenge given 2025’s cars will run without hybrid power.
Sami Pajari, Enni Mälkönen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: Toyota Racing
“I feel [the next target] it’s merely to get used to the automotive and be extra in line with the tempo,” he mentioned.
“The competitors is even larger in Rally1 than Rally2. There’s additionally somebody who’s quick on each single stage so you may’t actually have a foul stage or dangerous nook as you might be instantly shedding time. There will probably be many many areas the place I would like to enhance.
“I don’t assume it [the Rally1 car without hybrid] will not be that large a distinction for the motive force I assume and anyway I might have been studying the hybrid automotive nonetheless subsequent 12 months, so for me to leap into this case just isn’t so dangerous.”
Pajari does nevertheless discover himself within the excellent atmosphere to hone his already spectacular abilities by studying from a number of the WRC’s elite drivers already in Toyota’s steady. And there received’t be any further stress to carry out instantly when the brand new season begins in Monte Carlo in January.
“That [learning from the Toyota drivers this year] has been very nice,” he mentioned. “They’ve been so supportive to me and have been a giant serving to hand and with out their help it could have been a lot harder.
“There is no particular objectives or targets. In fact, we received one quickest stage time this 12 months in a Rally1 automotive within the three rallies we did and sooner or later I hope to get extra quickest occasions. I feel that would be the first step.
Winner WRC2, Sami Pajari, Enni Mälkönen, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
Photograph by: McKlein / Motorsport Photos
“Then sooner or later to be on the rostrum and win some rallies however I assume that’s not for subsequent 12 months, a minimum of that’s not the goal. We’ll see what our degree is firstly of the season and attempt to get higher step-by-step.”
Including to the problem of competing within the WRC prime flight subsequent season will probably be gelling with a brand new but to be introduced co-driver as his three-year partnership with Malkonen got here to an finish after Rally Japan.
“In 2018 I received the Finnish junior championship with one co-driver, the subsequent 12 months I received the primary Finnish championship with one other co-driver. In 2021 the Junior WRC victory got here with one other co-driver and now the WRC2 championship with a fourth completely different co-driver,” he added.
“We have now our the explanation why we really feel at this level of my profession that that is the most effective transfer to do. We had a really good three seasons with Enni and we achieved many many good issues and this 12 months we’ve got received the WRC2 title and now it’s time for one thing else.”