Pajari is chasing his first WRC2 class championship this weekend in Japan. The junior class title from the World Rally Championship series is already in his trophy cabinet, but now he’s aiming for an even greater achievement.
The Finnish driver will secure the WRC2 title if he finishes in the top two in Japan. Having already had a taste of Rally1 machinery this year, Pajari is not letting the situation stress him.
“It’s important a important rally but I have been in quite similar situations in the past. So it’s not the first time and but I would say anyway, it’s nice that we are in this position. This season has been so strong that we are fighting about the championship in the last rally,” Pajari said.
“It’s not really it’s never over until it’s very over. Even we have the chance to take the championship, still I think there is always some people who are really, really quick. So that’s for sure that it’s not easy. If the weather stays like this, still, I guess the stages will be tricky.”
Pajari aims to approach the race with his own calm strategy. In Japan, his toughest challengers are likely to be British driver Gus Greensmith and Nikolay Gryazin, competing under the Bulgarian flag. Surely, Heikki Kovalainen will also play his part in the battle for podium positions.
“It’s like just head down and focus on my thing and then I will see how the race starts. But I will start with like the pace, what I feel like good and comfortable, that’s all. More or less. The approach is like any other rallies of this year so far,” Pajari told.
“So I’m here to do my own own best thing and then I need to adjust if needed.”
The race kicks off in earnest on Friday morning, Japan time, with one of the rally’s most iconic stages. The first forest stage will be the 23.67-kilometre-long Isegami’s Tunnel. Notably, on this stage last year, Hyundai’s Dani Sordo and M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux both slid off at the same corner.
“That’s one of the most tricky stages. I think for two years now we have seen that always on the stage there is some drama. I don’t fully agree that it will decide everything, but for sure it’s like a tricky stage and quite long. If you are taking a little bit carefully and someone is pushing but still can manage all the way to the finish, then there will be a big time difference. I think that will happen. But okay, I will just try to do my my own thing.”
