Victory in Paraguay: A New Chapter in WRC History
Sami Pajari's Unprecedented Third Consecutive Win
Sami Pajari made history by securing his third consecutive victory in the World Rally Championship at Rally Paraguay. This remarkable achievement, following his triumphs in Estonia and Finland, has significantly reduced the points gap to championship leader Elfyn Evans, bringing it down to just 20 points. Piloting a Toyota, Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen demonstrated exceptional skill in conquering the demanding and ever-evolving clay and gravel stages of the Paraguayan rally. Their impressive performance led to a win with a 25.8-second advantage over Hayden Paddon of Hyundai, who was competing in his first top-tier WRC gravel event since 2018.
Podium Finish for Fourmaux and Evans' Challenge
Adrien Fourmaux, representing Hyundai, earned the third spot on the podium after surpassing championship frontrunner Elfyn Evans on the final day of competition. Pajari expressed immense gratitude to his team, emphasizing the critical role of their reliable vehicle in his success. He highlighted the rally's difficulty for both drivers and the support crew, expressing pride and satisfaction with his consistent performance in the championship.
The Grueling Demands of Rally Paraguay
Anticipated as a test of endurance, Rally Paraguay certainly lived up to its reputation. Extensive stage loops, uneven roads, and extreme temperatures contributed to numerous punctures and tire failures on the opening day, as Hankook's tires struggled under the harsh conditions. While heavy rain was expected to cause further disruption on Saturday and Sunday, a storm instead hit the Encarnacion service park on Saturday morning, damaging temporary structures but sparing the stages.
Early Setbacks and Tire Troubles
Despite Pajari's eventual victory, his Toyota teammate Oliver Solberg initially took the lead on Friday morning. However, Solberg's hopes were dashed in stage three due to an engine power loss, which caused him to overshoot into a ditch and required spectator assistance to restart his car. A subsequent right-rear puncture resulted in a four-minute time penalty. Several drivers, including Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta, who rolled in the opening stage, and Thierry Neuville, who retired with broken rear suspension after a puncture, encountered significant issues on Friday.
Ogier's Retirement and the Shifting Lead
Last year's champion, Sébastien Ogier, also retired from the race. He suffered a left-rear puncture in the first stage and a second after hitting a bank in stage two, which damaged his front-left suspension, forcing him out in stage three. This stage also saw tire problems for Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai and M-Sport's Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean. Hayden Paddon of Hyundai then took the lead, marking his first time leading a WRC rally since Portugal in 2018. His lead was short-lived, however, as a puncture in stage six handed the advantage to Evans.
Pajari Takes Control Amidst Adversity
Evans' lead was brief, as he experienced a right-rear tire delamination in stage seven. Opting not to stop for a tire change, he lost a minute. This stage proved particularly punishing, with Fourmaux enduring a double rear puncture and McErlean also stopping for a tire change. Pajari, who managed to avoid tire issues, faced a water leak in his GR Yaris during the morning loop. Despite this, the tire woes of Evans and Paddon in stage seven allowed Pajari to establish an 11.9-second lead over Paddon by Saturday.
Maintaining the Lead and Championship Implications
Pajari solidified his lead throughout Saturday's stages, which, contrary to expectations, remained dry. This surprised teams that had prepared for wet conditions. Although Pajari had a momentary scare and overshot in stage 11, ripping off part of his GR Yaris's rear wing, he maintained his composure. Entering the final day with a 24.1-second lead over Paddon, Pajari successfully secured the win, narrowing the championship gap to Evans to 20 points.
Race Recoveries and Additional Highlights
Oliver Solberg recovered from his Friday setbacks to finish fifth, tying with Ogier in the Super Sunday standings. Ogier claimed the maximum five points for winning the opening stage on Sunday. M-Sport-Ford's Josh McErlean achieved his best WRC finish in sixth, despite driving with a makeshift gear lever. Jon Armstrong, his teammate, retired from seventh with suspension failure. This allowed local favorite Diego Domínguez to secure a popular WRC2 class victory. Gus Greensmith and Alejandro Galanti completed the top ten. Sunday also saw further drama, as Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston rolled for a second time in Stage 21, leading to its cancellation. Both were reported to be safe and were taken to the hospital as a precaution.