Sami Pajari in a Toyota “B” team in 2025: what does it mean?

The list of entrants for the 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally (January 23-26) revealed some secrets for the 2025 season of the WRC. For example, confirmation that Thierry Neuville will use the No. 1 intended for the world champion, or that Josh McErleran chose No. 55 for his debut in the premier class with M-Sport. However, one piece of information caught our attention within the Rally1 grid: Sami Pajari is registered with a team Toyota BIS.

Officially called "Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2", this B team was created solely for the Finn who, let's remember, was a starter for the Japanese manufacturer on all the rounds of the season aboard the Yaris Rally1. If this small detail caught our attention, it is because the creation of a B team for Sami Pajari is not without consequences for the Constructors' World Championship. Explanations.

A strategic move by Toyota?

First of all, what does this mean for the "official" team, if you can call it that? And while only Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta will be able to score Constructors' Championship points for the Toyota team. The first two mentioned will be able to score Constructors' points on all the rounds, while Sébastien Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta will alternate: if the Frenchman is entered – as is the case for the Rally Monte Carlo – then he will be eligible for Constructors’ points while the Japanese will only be able to score points for the Drivers’ championship. If the Frenchman is absent, then the Japanese will be registered as eligible for Constructors’ points.

Remember that only three cars per manufacturer can be eligible for Manufacturers' points, but that only the two best cars score points at the end of the rally. This is also why Hyundai only enters three cars full-time in 2025 with the Neuville trio – Thank you - Fourmaux. In the case of Sami Pajari, by being registered with a dedicated second team, he will therefore not be able to bring back points for the Toyota A team… on the other hand, he will be able to win points for his own team and obviously, steal points from the competition. It goes without saying, but let's specify that the young Finn will very probably receive team orders if ever he is in a position to offer Constructors points to the A team.

Why isn't Katsuta in Team B too?

At the WRC 2025 Sporting Regulations level, according to article 5.3, Toyota Team B "will be able to score points only when another team is designated to score points in the WRC Manufacturers' Championship with the same car homologation", which is the case here with the official Toyota team and the Yaris Rally1. On the other hand, this B team "will not be able to designate a driver who has been designated to score points in the corresponding Constructor Team during the same season." This rule therefore explains why Takamoto Katsuta, despite being ineligible for points in the Monte Carlo Rally, is also not registered in this Toyota B team.

With four weeks to go until the 2025 season kicks off, Toyota has not provided any further details on the formation of this team. up to for Sami Pajari, but there is no doubt that the Finn will receive the same treatment as his teammates in the A team on a technical level. The 22-year-old Finn, who will be competing in his first full season in the premier category, has yet to find his feet in Rally1. With this B team, Toyota has decided to play it safe and take some pressure off its young protégé, who will also have to deal with a new co-driver in 2025, Marko Salminen.

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