Sami Pajari Turns Finnish Dream Into WRC History
Winning your first FIA World Rally Championship event is unforgettable.
Winning your home rally just two weeks later is the stuff of legends.
Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen produced one of the biggest moments of the 2026 WRC season by conquering Secto Rally Finland, delivering an emotional victory that sent thousands of Finnish fans into celebration while strengthening Toyota Gazoo Racing‘s dominance on home gravel.
The triumph marked Pajari’s second consecutive WRC victory after his breakthrough success in Estonia and etched his name into Finnish rally history.
A Nation’s Expectations, A Champion’s Response
Carrying a commanding 46.4-second lead into Sunday’s final stages, Pajari resisted the temptation to chase additional bonus points. Instead, he drove with maturity beyond his years, protecting his advantage through the demanding Himos–Jämsä tests before crossing the finish line 26.7 seconds ahead of Oliver Solberg.
Waiting at the finish was Finnish rally icon Ari Vatanen—a fitting welcome for the country’s newest hero.
“It was a big thing to take the win in Estonia, but a home win is always something special.
A big thanks to the team, but also to all the fans for all the support. It’s simply amazing.”
said Pajari
Those words summed up what the victory meant—not only for Pajari but for an entire rally-loving nation.
More Than Just Another Victory
The result carried enormous historical significance.
Pajari secured Finland’s 200th FIA World Rally Championship victory, having already delivered the nation’s 199th win in Estonia. He also became the 14th different Finnish driver to win Rally Finland during the WRC era.
The achievement underlines the remarkable legacy of Finnish rallying, a country that has consistently produced some of the world’s fastest drivers across generations.
It was also the first time since Kalle Rovanperä’s victories in Poland and Latvia in 2024 that a Finnish driver had claimed consecutive WRC rounds.
Toyota’s Total Domination
Toyota Gazoo Racing delivered a masterclass.
Oliver Solberg continued his outstanding form by finishing second despite battling severe back pain after a heavy landing earlier in the day. Even after receiving treatment before the final stage, the Swede remained incredibly fast and topped the Super Sunday classification.
Elfyn Evans completed Toyota’s podium sweep in third after one of the weekend’s biggest recovery drives.
Following a dramatic roll on Saturday, spectators helped return Evans’ damaged GR Yaris Rally1 to the road before Toyota’s mechanics worked tirelessly to rebuild the car during service.
Their effort paid off.
Evans responded by winning the Wolf Power Stage and salvaging valuable championship points.
“We owe thanks to the guys who fixed the car yesterday lunchtime.
We always know we can depend on those guys.”
Evans admitted
The one-two-three finish gave Toyota its eighth Rally Finland victory in the past nine editions and made the Japanese manufacturer the most successful marque in the event’s WRC history.
Drama Never Far Away
Rally Finland continued to deliver its trademark unpredictability.
Long-time leader Sébastien Ogier‘s hopes disappeared on Saturday after a heavy crash on the Västilä stage. Thankfully, both Ogier and stand-in co-driver Julien Ingrassia exited the accident safely before precautionary medical examinations confirmed they were unharmed.
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux fought back impressively after torrential rain ruined his early challenge, finishing fourth ahead of reigning world champion Thierry Neuville.
Takamoto Katsuta‘s hopes of another strong finish ended dramatically on the Wolf Power Stage after striking a tree, dropping him to sixth despite reaching the finish.
Further back, veteran Jari-Matti Latvala claimed victory in the RC2 category, while Robert Virves continued his perfect WRC2 campaign with a fourth victory from four starts.
Championship Momentum Builds
Pajari’s dream fortnight has transformed the championship conversation.
Although Elfyn Evans still leads the standings by 30 points, Pajari’s back-to-back victories have firmly established him as one of the season’s biggest contenders.
Confidence, momentum and home support have combined to propel the young Finn into rallying’s elite.
With Rally Finland now complete, the championship pauses briefly before heading to WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay later this month.
If Pajari can carry this momentum onto unfamiliar roads, the 2026 title fight could become one of the most exciting in recent memory.
Rally Finland Top Six
- Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 2:27:58.0
- Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +26.7s
- Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1:19.5
- Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:35.9
- Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +3:52.5
- Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +4:18.2