Pajari Admits Super Sunday Must Improve in WRC Title Fight

Sami Pajari has admitted that his Super Sunday performances are the one area he must improve if he wants to take the WRC title fight down to the wire. The Toyota driver sits second in the standings, 30 points behind team-mate Elfyn Evans, with four rounds remaining.

While that deficit is recoverable—given a maximum of 35 points available per rally—Pajari's Sunday points have been the glaring weakness. He has scored just 26 Super Sunday points all season, compared to Evans' impressive 69. In fact, Evans' entire championship lead over Pajari can be explained by their Sunday form alone.

“I guess that's probably true,” Pajari admitted. At Rally Finland last week, he chose to protect his lead on the final day, banking just two bonus points while Evans grabbed nine. The decision was understandable, given he was on course for a coveted home win.

Read AlsoSainz's Call Inspires Membrado to Dramatic Finland Win

Pajari explained that memories of Kalle Rovanpera's final-day retirement in Finland two years ago convinced him to play it safe. “Even though this is our home rally, there are so many variables. I wanted to be cautious,” he said, while acknowledging the value of those bonus points.

With the season finale in Saudi Arabia still in doubt due to security concerns, the title picture remains fluid. Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta and Oliver Solberg are also mathematically in contention, but Evans holds all the cards.

Pajari insists he won't drastically change his approach. “It's great to be part of this battle, and we have a realistic chance. But we're not going to change our mindset,” he stressed. The question now is whether he can find the extra pace on Sundays without risking disaster.