Sami Pajari Sets High Standards Ahead of Monte Carlo 2026

Sami Pajari is set to begin his second full season in the top category of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with Toyota Gazoo Racing as Rally Monte Carlo 2026 gets underway on Thursday, carrying significantly higher expectations than during his rookie campaign.

The 2025 season was primarily a learning year for the Finnish driver, but his progress became increasingly evident toward the latter stages. Pajari claimed his first Rally1 podium at Rally Japan, and in the season finale in Saudi Arabia he was in contention for victory before a puncture ended his challenge. Those results marked a clear step forward and provided a stronger foundation heading into the new campaign.

Entering 2026, Pajari insists the objective is to build directly on that momentum rather than resetting expectations. With only a short gap since the final round of last season, he believes continuity in driving rhythm and technical understanding will be crucial, particularly as early results immediately shape positions in the WRC 2026 standings, which evolve from the opening round and can be followed throughout the season at https://sportrik.com/wrc/klasemen.

“Of course we are trying to improve and continue from where we stopped,” Pajari said.
“It’s a new season and you might think you start from zero, but it hasn’t been that long since we last competed in Saudi Arabia. Toward the end of last season the results improved significantly and I even scored a podium.”

That late-season success has reinforced Pajari’s self-belief, making it easier to target the next level of performance. He underlined that progress at Rally1 level depends heavily on personal conviction and the ability to take calculated risks, while avoiding unnecessary overcommitment that can be costly in rallying’s most demanding environments.

“In the end, it really depends on yourself—how much you trust what you’re doing and how much you dare to take the right risks in certain places,” he explained.
“You also need experience so you don’t take risks in places that are simply not smart. You have to be brave, but sensible.”

The opening round at Monte Carlo is expected to present immediate and severe challenges. Snow has already been reported on sections of Thursday night’s special stages, while Wednesday’s shakedown was run on completely dry asphalt. This sharp contrast underlines the unique difficulty of the event, long regarded as one of the most complex rounds on the WRC 2026 calendar, detailed at https://sportrik.com/wrc/calendar.

“Even though the forecast shows quite a lot of snow, I feel fairly confident,” Pajari said.
“The shakedown was quite easy because it was dry. I’ve driven several Monte Carlos here before, and this is my second time with the same car. In that sense, my overall feeling is better and more confident than before.”

Despite that confidence, Pajari was clear in stressing that Monte Carlo remains an exceptional test. Rapidly changing grip levels, long transitions, and extreme surface variation demand sustained concentration and precise decision-making from the opening kilometres.

“This will definitely be a very challenging rally,” he added.
“I would even say this is almost the most challenging rally of the entire season.”

The first three special stages of Rally Monte Carlo 2026 will be run on Thursday night, with the rally concluding on Sunday. For Pajari, the event represents more than just a season opener—it is an early benchmark of whether the higher standards he has set for himself can be translated into consistent results in an increasingly competitive WRC field.