The impression was that it was only a matter of time before he would see his first WRC stage win, and so it was. Sami Pajari took just 9 special stages to secure his first stage win in the top class of the World Rally Championship.
The young talent from Toyota Gazoo Racing, making his debut at the wheel of a hybrid Rally1 this weekend, won Special Stage 9 of Rally Finland, the 7.76-kilometre Ruuhimaki 2, leaving behind teammates Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera, but also World Championship leader Thierry Neuville.
Pajari, with a very good starting position, took advantage of the opportunity and stopped the clock at 3’46″7, half a second faster than Ogier and 6 tenths faster than Kalle Rovanpera. The gap from the two-time world champion, however, is true as both started a short distance from each other.
This result has no particular relevance for the general classification, because Pajari is sixth and 40 seconds behind Adrien Fourmaux who precedes him, but it is still a satisfaction for him and for Toyota who gave him this great opportunity.
It’s also a good response from the 21-year-old, who had ruined his lap this morning by breaking his rear wing on a tree right from SS2.
In addition to the deserved celebration of Pajari, it is worth noting the convinced attack of Sébastien Ogier for second place in the general classification. The Frenchman, thanks to the second time in the trials and the fifth time of Elfyn Evans, has moved to 1″2 from the position of honor with just one special stage to go at the end of the day.
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