Pajari secures maiden 2026 podium at Rally Sweden

Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen delivered a strong performance at Rally Sweden, securing third place overall and marking a significant recovery after a difficult start to the 2026 World Rally Championship season. The Finnish duo, driving for Toyota, navigated the snowy conditions with consistency, ultimately finishing 46 seconds behind rally winner and teammate Elfyn Evans.

This result mirrors Pajari's career-best performance from last November at Rally Japan. The podium finish was bolstered by two stage wins on Sunday, providing a much-needed boost in confidence following the setbacks encountered at the Monte Carlo Rally. Pajari finished 25.6 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Oliver Solberg.

Pajari praised the Toyota team for their continued backing following his early-season exit in Monte Carlo. While he is currently competing outside the primary manufacturers' points scoring roster, the driver remains focused on his individual performance rather than internal team dynamics, noting that his primary goal is to maintain a high level of consistency throughout the remainder of the season.