Sami Pajari Targets First WRC Victory

Sami Pajari heads into Rally Portugal 2026 determined to secure the first World Rally Championship victory of his career. The young Toyota Gazoo Racing driver admitted he is “really hungry” to finally convert his recent podium consistency into a full Rally1 win.

Pajari has emerged as one of the most consistent performers during the opening phase of the 2026 WRC season after achieving four consecutive podium finishes, more than any other Rally1 driver so far this year. The Finnish driver has already collected three third places and one runner-up finish, highlighting significant progress in both pace and overall consistency.

Despite the strong momentum, Pajari insisted previous results provide no direct advantage heading into Rally Portugal. According to the Finn, every rally presents a unique challenge that effectively forces drivers to reset mentally, particularly as the championship returns to gravel events following two asphalt rallies.

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“The last few rallies have been very, very good. But that still doesn’t make this rally any easier. It’s another new event and, in some ways, a completely fresh starting point,” Pajari explained.

From a technical perspective, Rally Portugal is expected to become one of the toughest events of the season because of rapidly changing grip levels, loose gravel surfaces, and unpredictable weather conditions. Road position could also become decisive as surface evolution often dramatically changes conditions between early and late starters.

Pajari admitted gravel rallies generally suit his natural driving style better than asphalt events. However, he stressed the importance of maintaining full concentration from the opening stages due to the length of the rally and the technical complexity traditionally associated with Portugal.

“I’m really very hungry to succeed. I’ll do everything possible again to make it happen,” Pajari said.

The 24-year-old also reported a strong feeling during pre-event testing and shakedown sessions. In the official shakedown, Thierry Neuville placed Hyundai fastest, while Pajari finished second ahead of Adrien Fourmaux.

The result suggested Hyundai could become a major threat to Toyota throughout the weekend. Pajari himself said he hopes the fight for victory remains close because intense competition would make the rally more exciting from a sporting perspective.

“Honestly, I hope the competition is tight. It would be really nice to see a strong fight. But at the same time, I hope our car is strong enough to respond,” Pajari added.

Although his confidence has increased following the recent podium streak, Pajari insisted he remains realistic about his current position and refuses to view himself differently because of the results achieved so far this season.

With Rally Portugal traditionally known as one of the longest and most technically demanding events on the WRC calendar, this weekend is now viewed as one of Pajari’s strongest opportunities yet to transform podium consistency into a breakthrough WRC victory and strengthen his position in the 2026 championship battle.