Sami Pajari etched his name into World Rally Championship history by clinching a third straight victory at Rally Paraguay, trimming Elfyn Evans’ championship advantage to 20 points.
Following his breakthrough win in Estonia and subsequent triumph in Finland, Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen successfully navigated the demanding abrasive clay and gravel stages of Paraguay. Driving for Toyota, the duo secured a commanding 25.8-second victory over Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon, who was making his first top-tier WRC gravel start since 2018.
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the podium after overtaking championship leader Elfyn Evans on the rally’s final day.
“Amazing. Big thanks to the team once again. It was not an easy rally, not easy for the drivers, but nevertheless not easy for the team. And building such a reliable car is the key for the success. So really, really proud moment, really, really happy. It feels really, really good, and I don’t know how we are exactly on the points, but 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”, said Pajari, who became the first driver to score three consecutive WRC wins immediately after taking a maiden victory.
Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Crews anticipated that Rally Paraguay would test their endurance, and the event certainly delivered on that expectation. Extended stage loops, rugged terrain, and sweltering temperatures led to numerous punctures and tyre delaminations on Friday as Hankook’s rubber struggled against the harsh conditions.
Forecasters had predicted heavy rain would create further havoc over the weekend. However, instead of lashing the stages, a powerful storm ravaged the Encarnacion service park on Saturday morning, demolishing several temporary structures.
While Pajari ultimately secured victory, it was his Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg who set the early pace on Friday morning. The Swede’s promising start unravelled dramatically in stage three when a sudden loss of engine power caused him to overshoot into a ditch, requiring spectator assistance to push-start the car. A subsequent right rear puncture cost him an additional four minutes in the stage.
Solberg was just one of several drivers to encounter difficulties on Friday. Three Rally1 crews had retired by the end of the third stage. Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta rolled his car early in the opening stage, while Thierry Neuville was forced to halt with broken rear suspension after sustaining a puncture.
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Defending event winner Sébastien Ogier also fell victim to Friday’s trials. The Frenchman lost time due to a left-rear puncture in the opening stage, then suffered a second puncture after clipping a bank in stage two. The resulting damage to his front left suspension forced the nine-time world champion to retire in stage three—the same stage where Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux and M-Sport pairing Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean also suffered tyre-related issues.
The chaotic opening day left Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon in the lead, marking the first time the New Zealander had headed a WRC rally since Portugal in 2018. Paddon maintained his position for two stages before becoming the latest victim of tyre failure in stage six, which allowed Evans to assume control.
Evans’ tenure at the front proved brief, however, as a right rear tyre delamination struck in stage seven. Despite opting not to stop for a wheel change, he lost approximately one minute. The stage was particularly punishing, with Fourmaux also sustaining a double rear puncture while McErlean stopped to replace a wheel.
Pajari was among the fortunate few to escape Friday’s tyre dramas, though he faced his own challenges with a water leak affecting his GR Yaris during the morning loop. Following the tyre misfortunes that struck Evans and Paddon in stage seven, the Finn carried an 11.9-second advantage over Paddon into Saturday.
Diego Dominguez, Rogelio Peñate, Toyota Gr Yaris Rally2
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Once established in the lead, Pajari steadily built his margin throughout Saturday’s stages, which remained dry to the surprise of teams that had prepared wet-weather setups in anticipation of forecasted heavy rain. The Finn did experience a scare in stage 11 when he overshot and tore off part of his GR Yaris’ rear wing after running wide into a ditch.
Carrying a 24.1-second lead over Paddon into the final day, Pajari appeared largely untroubled as he cruised to victory, reducing the gap to championship leader Evans to 20 points.
Solberg recovered from his Friday setbacks to finish fifth, matching Ogier’s overall time in the Super Sunday standings. The Frenchman, who had suffered a half spin in the final stage, claimed the maximum five points by winning Sunday’s opening stage.
Joshua McErlean, Eoin Treacy, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1
Photo by: M-Sport
M-Sport-Ford’s Josh McErlean matched his career-best WRC result with a sixth-place finish, despite completing the rally with an improvised gear lever secured by a spanner. His team-mate Jon Armstrong retired from seventh position in stage 20 due to suspension failure.
Armstrong’s exit promoted WRC2 class winner and home favourite Diego Domínguez, who celebrated a popular WRC2 victory on home soil. Rounding out the top ten were Gus Greensmith and Alejandro Galanti.
Sunday delivered its own share of drama when the returning Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston rolled their car for a second time, this time in stage 21, which was subsequently red-flagged and cancelled. The pair were reported to be uninjured but were transported to hospital for precautionary evaluation.
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