From retirement to the podium, Pajari is on the rise in the premier category

“Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano”. The Italian adage, which means "He who goes slowly, goes healthily and goes far", could not be more relevant regarding Sami Pajari and his start to the 2025 season in WRCThe Finn is in the midst of a discovery phase at the highest level of rally world, he who is playing his first full season in the premier category with ToyotaAnd we almost tend to forget it, as the young 23-year-old driver has been so discreet during the first three meetings of the season.

Aboard the Yaris Rally1, dressed in white to distinguish himself from the "A Team" drivers, Sami Pajari played it safe to begin his full-time adventure with the Japanese manufacturer. Whether in Monte Carlo, Sweden, or Kenya, the Nordic driver didn't set a single fastest time, or even a second-fastest special time. Yet, after three events, the rookie has 19 points to his name and sits 8th in the championship, just six points behind Takamoto Katsuta and twelve points behind Kalle Rovanperä, both regular drivers in the factory team. This was the result of a conservative strategy, as he had started the season on the wrong foot.

Disappointing in Monte Carlo, solid in Kenya

At Monte-Carlo, Sami Pajari – who was already driving well off the best times – lost everything on Sunday's first special stage when he fell into a stream after hitting a bridge... before being caught by Takamoto Katsuta a few moments later, both having been trapped by icy patches. The Finn was then in 7th place and, even though he is not eligible to score points in the Constructors' Championship for Toyota, this retirement on the final day of racing inevitably put a certain amount of pressure on his shoulders. Nevertheless, the WRC2 champion has resources and was able to respond on the following two events, in Sweden and Kenya, on different and demanding terrain.

In Scandinavia, despite a puncture on SS2, Sami Pajari managed to secure a solid 7th place, less than 2'30 behind the winner, Elfyn Evans. On the Safari, in fairly intense conditions and despite mishaps on Friday morning on SS3 (puncture and broken windshield), the 23-year-old driver managed to escape all the pitfalls and take advantage of his rivals' mishaps to secure a magnificent 4th place. And while his pace wasn't particularly impressive, he still equaled his best result in the WRC.

© Nikos Katikis / DPPI

“It’s a great relief to cross the finish line. That was our only goal throughout the rally, he said, happy but exhausted, after the finish of the Safari Rally. It's been quite a long week, from the reconnaissance to the four days of rallying. It can be exhausting, but we managed it well. There weren't any big mistakes or problems, which is exactly what we wanted for this event, so I can be very satisfied. (…) I'm happy that the team won this rally once again and with the experience we gained here, we can be even stronger next time."

Too much expectation on Pajari?

With results and confidence on the rise, Sami Pajari seems to have finally taken the measure of his new role in the premier class. Obviously, with the promise shown in WRC2 and last year at Rally Finland (4th in his first event in Rally1, with a scratch time), we expect even more from the young Finn, whose talent and potential are well known…. But, in the general excitement, are we expecting too much from Sami Pajari for his first full season? According to the main interested party, his excellent result at his home event in 2024 has created expectations that are too high for him, to the point of deeming them unrealistic.

"I think that feeling is only growing as we go on. I think the [performance in] Finland was a little too good in that sense, had admitted Sami Pajari with DirtFish after the Swedish Rally in FebruaryWe had the fastest time on a special stage and came fourth overall, so it's kind of like we set the bar really high, at least for the others. So maybe people are thinking, 'OK, he was fourth in his first event, so what happens in the future?' (…) I'm trying to keep them grounded, not to raise too many expectations." Let's not forget that Sami Pajari, in addition to learning the basics of the premier class through rallies, must now work with a new co-driver: Marko Salminen, 46, whose experience is essential to support the young wolf in his progression to the highest level.

Now fully integrated into the elite of world rallying, Sami Pajari must step up a gear to prove his true worth and secure his place in the premier class. While he will continue to discover new events throughout the season – starting with the Canary Islands Rally, from April 24 to 27 – the Toyota driver must get closer to the pace of his peers on the rallies he already knows, such as in Portugal, Sardinia, Greece and especially Finland, which all take place on his favorite surface, gravel. If he can confirm all the potential and talent promised in him, a podium finish could be within reach in 2025.

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