Pajari Set for WRC2 Title Showdown in Japan

Sami Pajari and co-driver Enni Mälkönen are set to embark on the final round of the World Rally Championship in Japan, with the WRC2 title firmly within their grasp. Throughout the season, the Finnish duo has delivered consistently strong performances in their Printsport Racing Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, elevating themselves into championship contention. To clinch the crown, they must finish among the top two in their class.

‍The season, which commenced in Monte Carlo back in January, has been a resounding success for Pajari and Mälkönen. Adding to their achievements, they've gained invaluable experience by participating in three events behind the wheel of Toyota's Rally1 car—most memorably making their debut on home soil during the Finnish rally in August.

Competing in the Rally2 category, they've accumulated eight starts this season, securing three victories and a total of six podium finishes. As they head into Rally Japan, the pair sit third in the WRC2 standings, trailing Sweden's Oliver Solberg by 15 points and France's Yohan Rossel by a mere three points. Crucially, neither Solberg nor Rossel will be collecting points in Japan, as they've already completed their quota of points-scoring events under the series rules, which allow drivers to count their best six results from seven eligible rallies.

The final showdown promises to be anything but straightforward. Pajari and Mälkönen will face fierce competition on Japan's notoriously twisty and challenging asphalt roads. A third-place finish would leave Pajari level on points with Solberg, but the tie-breaker favours the Swede. Therefore, a minimum of second place is imperative for the Finns to secure the championship.

Adding another layer of complexity, Bulgaria's Nikolay Gryazin enters the fray with significant stakes of his own. A strong performance could see him vault from fourth to as high as second in the standings. Pajari will also be contending with Gryazin for the WRC2 Challenger title—a class reserved for drivers who haven't previously won a WRC2-level championship or competed for manufacturer points in a WRC1 team.

Reflecting on their previous experience in Japan, where they competed in the 2022 season finale amid wildly varying weather conditions—even torrential rain—Pajari remains remarkably composed about the task ahead.

"It was an interesting rally back then, and I really enjoyed the special stages," he recalls. "Conditions can fluctuate at this time of year. Usually, there's not much cutting in the corners, so the asphalt stays relatively clean. The roads are twisty but very enjoyable.

"As for the mounting pressure of the championship decider, Pajari is taking it all in his stride. "I don't feel any particular pressure from the rally itself," he admits. "An earlier event could have gone worse, and the championship chance might have slipped away then. We're happy to be in this position and we'll approach it as just another rally among many. We'll do our best and see what the result is at the end.

"Summing up the season, Pajari notes that their success is all the more impressive given that Toyota's Rally2 car is in its maiden year of World Championship competition—a fact that may have slipped from the minds of many.

"We've learned and developed in every area," he says. "We've been consistently quick throughout the season, securing podiums in various rallies. It feels like this year has flown by, with only one race left. The wins in Sardinia, Poland, and Greece have been the highlights, and the experiences in the Rally1 car stand out the most.

"Rally Japan kicks off on Thursday, 21 November 2024, with a morning shakedown followed by an evening opening stage of a few kilometres at Toyota Stadium, which also serves as the hub for the service park.

Friday's agenda features eight special stages covering a total of 126 kilometres. Saturday continues with seven stages amounting to 103.87 kilometres. The rally concludes on Sunday with five stages over 70.57 kilometres.

In a departure from many other WRC events, Rally Japan offers minimal midday service breaks. Teams have only a tyre-change service during the day; full services are scheduled for the mornings before the stages and evenings after. However, on Sunday, there is a short midday service before the final two stages.

Competition days commence early local time, with sunrise shortly after 6:30 am and sunset around 4:40 pm, meaning no forest stages are run in darkness. European rally enthusiasts will need to adjust their viewing schedules, as time differences mean the action unfolds overnight. For example, Helsinki is seven hours behind Japan. The final special stage starts after 2:00 pm local time on Sunday, so the rally's outcome will be known early Sunday morning European time.

As the season reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Pajari and Mälkönen to see if they can seize the moment and drive their way into the history books.