Pajari made optimal use of his starting position on Thursday in the tough conditions and is currently second in the rally. The Finnish driver even led the event for a moment, but lost time on the final proper special stage after a tyre deflated.
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux ended the day in the lead of the rally, but Pajari is only 5.3 seconds behind the Frenchman.
“It was a pretty positive day anyway, a couple of stages where we were really consistent. We were at the front all the time, even leading, so that´s positive. On the last stage we had the problem, but we didn´t lose a lot,” Pajari summed up.
“It has been really tough. Anyway we didn’t really know what to expect, but still, I tried to be a little more on the safe side and try to be smart.”
Pajari’s starting position for Friday is again excellent. In Japan a couple of weeks ago, the Toyota driver claimed the first podium of his WRC career, but now there is the potential for even more.
“I think you are really on a thin line where you are trying to be saving the car. I think if we could continue like this for the last two days, it would be great but a long, long way to go,” Pajari stated in his typically modest manner.
“It’s cool for us to lead the rally, but also for the people following. I guess it’s something more exciting, I would say. But I need to see how the road conditions will be tomorrow, if it will be the same story or something different.”
