The dust has settled, the data delivered and decided on – so now what? When will Sami Pajari be back in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1?
Tuesday’s news of Mārtiņš Sesks’ return to the top-flight – albeit in a Ford Puma minus the hybrid – in Chile next month has raised the same question of his fellow Rally1 mid-season debutant Pajari.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala is the man best placed to answer.
“We are looking at options,” Latvala told DirtFish. “What Sami did in Finland was a really great result. Even though the start was a bit tough on the first day, he showed a really strong mental side to be able to pull himself together [after a Friday morning spin], winning the stage and then eventually finishing fourth overall.
“Of course, that has created some more interest and we are looking at what could be done.”
Latvala was quick to point to Pajari’s WRC2 commitments for the remainder of the season. The 22-year-old sits 18 points behind series leader Oliver Solberg with one additional event in hand over the Škoda-driving Swede. Pajari starts next week’s Acropolis Rally knowing only a win will be good enough to keep him in the title race – but if Solberg wins on his next outing in Chile then the title will be his.
“We know Oliver [Solberg] is in a very strong position,” added Latvala, “but we want Sami to concentrate on his WRC2 program – he still has a chance of victory. But then, let’s see.
“There are not many more rounds and it wasn’t really our target [to give Pajari a second Rally1 run], the target this year was to have him in Finland, but like I said, his result has created some interest and then, you know, some discussions internally.
“But we haven’t decided anything. I think it would be correct to say we haven’t ruled it out that he might drive GR Yaris Rally1 again this season.”
With Pajari already committed to Rally2 for Greece next week, that leaves Chile, Central European Rally and Japan. Given the more complex logistics of sending a car to South America or the Far East, the season’s asphalt-based European finale might be the most obvious for that second outing.
