Third in the Rally Sweden, Sami Pajari proved that Monte Carlo "was an exception"

Several mistakes and a final withdrawal, the Rally Sami Pajari's Monte Carlo Rally was anything but a successful start to the season. While Oliver Solberg, against whom he battled in WRC2, won the first round of the year with the same Toyota In the GR Yaris Rally1, Pajari faced the need in Sweden to return to the front positions.

Mission accomplished for the Finn, who, along with his teammate Marko Salminen, climbed onto the third step of the podium, behind two other Toyotas, those of Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, but ahead of Oliver Solberg, who finished fourth on home soil. An important result for Pajari, who explained to our microphone that he felt reassured to have been able to capitalize after a nightmarish Monte Carlo Rally.

“It’s reassuring, yes, it shows that Monte Carlo was truly an exception. It was surprising to see how difficult it was there, because after the last rallies of the 2025 season, we were constantly getting closer to the podium, while also reaching it for the first time in Japan. After a difficult Monte Carlo, it’s good to get back to the level where I think we deserve to be. It’s very good for me, but also for the whole team, to see what we’re capable of.”

The 2024 WRC2 world champion, Pajara, saw Solberg succeed him in the category's record books last year. Watching the two young guns battle it out during the final two days of Rally Sweden had a special appeal for observers, but not for the Finnish driver who, like any competitor, wants to beat everyone at every opportunity.

“I wasn’t thinking too much about being in a battle with Oliver. Like I often say, we all have to fight each other; it’s not just Oliver against me. I try to fight with Taka, with Elfyn, with everyone. In recent years, we’ve often battled with Oliver; sometimes I was faster, sometimes he was, and this weekend was our weekend.”

It remains to be seen whether Pajari can continue this positive momentum next March, at the Kenya Rally, the third round of the 2026 World Rally Championship.

Interview conducted by Pierre Barré in Umeå (Sweden).

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