Pajari Ready for Chilean Rally1 Challenge

Following the dust and drama of the Acropolis Rally in Greece, Sami Pajari and his co-driver Enni Mälkönen received unexpected yet thrilling news: an opportunity to compete in the Chilean and Central European rounds of the World Rally Championship behind the wheel of Toyota Gazoo Racing's Rally1 car.‍

The Finnish duo made a remarkable debut in the premier class during August's Rally Finland, securing an impressive fourth-place finish. Now, they're set to further their experience with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid on Chile's distinctive gravel surfaces before tackling the demanding asphalt roads of Central Europe with the same machinery.

The Chilean round, which made a return to the WRC last year after a 3-year hiatus, remains relatively uncharted territory for many drivers compared to the long-standing events on the calendar. Despite some new sections being introduced, several stages will be familiar from last year's route. Although their participation was confirmed later than usual, Pajari insists their preparation remains uncompromised.

"Chile wasn't even in our recce plans, so this opportunity came as quite a surprise," Pajari admitted. "Naturally, we seized the chance rather than watching from home. We always study preview videos and other material ahead of each rally, so our preparation hasn't been particularly rushed."

"Last year, we competed here in the WRC2 class, and the Friday stages left a pleasant impression. There have been some changes for Saturday and Sunday, and I believe we're in for a fantastic rally once again.

"Tire wear posed significant challenges in last year's event, affecting both competitors and teams. This time around, teams can leverage data from previous competitions to refine their strategies.

"There's traditionally been a lot of road sweeping in this rally, so those starting at the front will act as the cleaners and suffer accordingly," explained Pajari. "On the first pass, tire wear isn't much of an issue, but some stages are particularly abrasive on the second run. We'll certainly need to consider these factors carefully, especially with the new special stages. It's not a problem per se, but it's something we need to account for.

"Chile's stages have drawn comparisons to Finland's roads, though echoes of New Zealand and Wales rallies are also evident. Transitioning from Greece's slower, rougher gravel stages, the team now faces an entirely different challenge

."I'm really looking forward to it; I enjoyed the rally a lot last year," said Pajari. "It's not a survival battle - the roads are varied, featuring twisty sections as well as fast stretches. They're generally in excellent condition and feel somewhat familiar."

"The passion of the rally fans here is fantastic, and Chile is a fascinating country. Plus, it's always an adventure to travel so far from home. We're incredibly grateful to Toyota for giving us the chance to drive the Rally1 car here. We don't have a specific result target; we'll drive as we feel comfortable and won't stress about it. But of course, whenever we put the helmet on, we're aiming to compete," he concluded.

This year's rally base has shifted from the inland city of Los Angeles to the coastal hub of Concepción. The schedule adheres to a traditional format: shakedown takes place on Thursday morning local time, followed by a ceremonial start in the evening.

On Friday, three special stages are run twice, covering just under 113 kilometres. The route traverses the picturesque central valley. Saturday and Sunday's stages move into the coastal mountains, though altitudes remain mostly below 600 metres - a stark contrast to Greece, where stages climbed well over a kilometer.

Saturday features three stages repeated twice, adding over 139 kilometers to the rally distance, including the event's longest test - the 28.3-kilometre Maria Las Cruces. The final day comprises 54.8 kilometers across two stages, each run twice. Unlike many rallies, Chile provides full service breaks on both Friday and Saturday, not just tyre-fitting zones.

For European fans, the rally's timing leans towards the evening. With Chile six hours behind Helsinki, competitive action kicks off in the late afternoon and extends into the night, offering a prime-time spectacle for those tuning in.