WRC

Sami Pajari wins Delfi Rally Estonia for fairytale debut victory

Motorsport Technology
3 months ago
3 min read

Sami Pajari secured a maiden World Rally Championship victory at Delfi Rally Estonia to throw the title chase wide open.

The Finnish driver was in supreme form, leading every stage from start to finish in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 to catapult himself to third in the standings and only 33 points behind championship-leading team-mate Elfyn Evans.

In victory, Pajari joins an illustrious list of Finnish Rally winners, becoming the 17th to do so.

“It’s something so amazing, maybe I didn’t really realise what I’ve just done,” Pajari is quoted on WRC.com.

Sami Pajari (FIN), Marko Salminen (FIN) during the World Rally Championship Estonia in Tartu, Estonia on 19.07.2026 / Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool /

“Thank you to everybody working at Toyota Gazoo Racing, I’m super-happy for you and super-grateful, thanks for all the support and trusting in myself.

“Thanks to everyone who stood behind my back when there were some tricky times, this is for you.

“I thank myself for not giving up and going for it once again. Now I’ve done it, it feels good.”

With Pajari starting the two-stage final leg leading Oliver Solberg by 25.0sec, one may have thought pressure could have played a big part.

Sami Pajari (FIN), Marko Salminen (FIN) celebrate on the podium in first place after winning the WRC Rally1 category at WRC Delfi Rally Estonia in Tartu, / Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool /

But he was dialled in, matching Solberg’s times closely enough to secure the victory by a close 19.5s from the Swede with Adrien Formaux completing the podium.

Thierry Neuville finished in fourth place from Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans.

“It’s been a very good weekend for sure, I need to be happy,” added Solberg. “It’s been a couple of hard rallies.

“I didn’t have the full confidence to push on the proper 100 per cent limit like Sami had, he deserves it.

“Very happy with my weekend, good points and a good stepping stone for the upcoming events.”

The win means that Evans still leads the standings by 25 points from Takamoto Katsuta with Pajari only a further eight points adrift.

Ogier lies just five points further back with Solberg hot on his heels.

Next up on the WRC calendar is the high-speed gravel of Secto Rally Finland from 30 July – 2 August.

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