Motorsport TechnologySami Pajari and Marko Salminen created World Rally Championship history by completing a hat-trick of wins with victory at the ueno Rally del Paraguay.
The Finnish pair, whose debut win came in the Rally of Estonia, have now followed it up with victories in Finland and Paraguay.
It means that they become the first duo whose first three wins in the WRC have come consecutively.
Their a 25.8sec victory over Hayden Paddon and John Kennard also means they are right in contention for ultimate championship glory, just 20 points behind leader Elfyn Evans with three rounds remaining.
Three-in-a-row 🏆🏆🏆#WRC | #uenoRallyDelParaguay 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/OUA7X4AGdP
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) August 30, 2026
“Amazing,” Pajari is quoted on wrc.com. “Big thanks to the team once again. It was not an easy rally, not easy for the drivers, but nevertheless not easy for the team.
“Building such a reliable car is the key for the success. It’s a really, really proud moment and I’m really, really happy.”
Behind the winning Finnish pair was another success story, New Zealander Paddon competing in his first top-level WRC gravel start since 2018 and briefly leading on Friday.
Not your average lakeside drive 👀#WRC | #uenoRallyDelParaguay 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/Rn8lT4mT3S
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) August 29, 2026
“This one feels like a proper podium,” added Paddon. “A lot of people had written us off, but a lot of people believed in me and we believed in ourselves.
“This goes to show you never ever give up. Dream, dare to believe in your dream, and I can’t believe we’re back here in this full circle.”
In a battle royale for the final podium place, it was Adrien Fourmaux who snatched third from championship leader championship leader Elfyn Evans who still leads the championship on 216 points but with Pajari only 20 points behind on 196.
Oliver Solberg remains in the championship mix on 175 points after his rally was compromised with an engine issue whilst leading the rally on Friday.
A puncture added to his woes, costing him valuable time and an eventual fifth place finish behind Evans.
Next up on the calendar is the WRC Rally of Chile from 10-13 September before the Rally Italia Sardegna and Rally Saudi Arabia round out another gripping season.
The battle for the top continues 👊#WRC | #uenoRallyDelParaguay 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/sT9wKex4t7
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) August 30, 2026
