Oliver Solberg set the fastest time on SS19 Himos-Jämsä 1 at WRC Finland 2026, while Sami Pajari adopted a controlled approach to protect his advantage ahead of the final Power Stage.
Solberg was quickest over the 30.02-kilometre test, beating Elfyn Evans by 2.9 seconds. Pajari completed the stage exactly 10.0 seconds slower than Solberg but retained a 36.4-second advantage at the top of the overall classification.
“It was a really long stage. There was no reason to drive slowly, but in a couple of places I noticed I was being quite cautious. Everything is under control,” Pajari said. His approach made clear that the priority was no longer chasing stage victories but reaching the finish and securing the rally win.
With only SS20 Himos-Jämsä 2 remaining, Pajari's position has become increasingly secure. Solberg remains second, but a deficit of more than half a minute means a change at the top would require a significant development on the final Power Stage.
The battle for third remains considerably tighter. Elfyn Evans extended his advantage over Adrien Fourmaux to 13.5 seconds after finishing 2.9 seconds behind Solberg. Evans reported a small moment during the stage but avoided any major consequence.
Fourmaux faced a more unusual distraction when an insect flew around inside his cockpit during the stage. The Hyundai driver described the situation as a nightmare and now needs a strong Power Stage if he is to challenge Evans for the final podium position.
Solberg also leads the Super Sunday classification after SS19, ahead of Evans and Takamoto Katsuta. Pajari sits fourth in Sunday's points order, consistent with his more conservative approach as he focuses on the overall victory.
SS20 Himos-Jämsä 2, another 30.02-kilometre run, is the only stage remaining and will serve as the WRC Finland 2026 Power Stage. Pajari starts the final test with a 36.4-second lead over Solberg and is one stage away from a second consecutive victory.
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