Sami Pajari is perhaps the last exponent of the prolific Finnish rally quarry. After three seasons in the Junior WRC, Pajari took the title in 2021 in what was the bye-bye concept of the Junior World Championship with two-wheel drive vehicles, in this case the Ford Fiesta Rally4. Following the new ‘scale’ of the FIA rally pyramid, Sami Pajari competes this year in WRC3 with a Ford Fiesta Rally3a category in which he also occupies the lead after disputing the first four tests of the season.
Its good start to the season led Pajari to make the leap to a more powerful and dispute the Rally of Italy-Sardinia at the controls of a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo within the WRC2 category. A premiere that the young Finnish driver ended with very good feelings and almost a better grade, since Sami Pajari finished fifth in the silver category of the WRC in the Italian round. An experience that Pajari wants to repeatsince it has already closed its presence in two other rallies in WRC2.
In this sense, Sami Pajari will contest the rallies of Finland and Spain at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, presumably under management again by Toksport WRT. In this way, the suomi driver will take a break from his WRC3 program at his home appointment and on the always attractive stages of the Rally RACC de Catalunya to compete against the best drivers in the silver category of the World Championship. He will be accompanied as usual by his co-driver Enni Mälkönen.
«The performance with the Toksport WRT team had a brilliant start in Sardinia and before that start we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to expand this program. We are excited to be able to compete with the Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo on the fast tracks of Finland. The presence in Spain in the autumn will also give us the opportunity to test this car on the fast asphalt sections of the country, so in general we will have a good image of what the ‘Rally2’ are capable of this season» has assured Sami Pajari in the first place.
Along these lines, the young Finnish driver added: «This is a wonderful opportunity for usthe option to compete for the new Junior WRC and start testing a ‘Rally2’. The option of driving this car in our home race is a real pleasure. We have made a great effort to close this varied program for the 2022 season and this is once again a sign of the success we are achieving in this part. We continue working to improve in all aspects».
Photos: FIA WRC / Red Bull Content Pool