Pajari had the opportunity to test the car on Monday with his co-driver Enni Mälkönen at Toyota’s own test area in Central Finland. The Lahti-based driver will make his debut behind the wheel of a Rally1 car at the beginning of August in Rally Finland.
Among those present at the tests was Timo “WRC Timo” Hautamäki, who published a video of Pajari’s tests on YouTube. Pajari seems to have quickly become comfortable with the Rally1 hybrid car.
Watch the video compiled by Timo Hautamäki of Pajari’s tests below.
Pajari was supposed to make his debut with the Rally1 car next week at Rally Latvia, but the dream opportunity was ultimately moved to his home roads. Currently, Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sebastien Ogier are expected to drive Toyota’s equipment in Latvia.
However, Toyota has not yet confirmed Ogier’s readiness to compete, as he was involved in a car accident during the recce for Rally Poland at the end of June. The elderly man who collided with Ogier later passed away, although it is not certain if the death was caused by the accident.
Pajari has competed this year with Toyota’s Rally2 car in the WRC2 class. The 22-year-old Finnish promise claimed class victories in both Sardinia and Poland. In the Rally Sweden in February, Pajari finished second. Pajari won the JWRC class championship in the WRC series in the 2021 season.
In the WRC2 class standings, Pajari is currently in second place. Frenchman Yohan Rossel is three points ahead of the Finn.
