Toyota clinched this season’s World Rally Championship manufacturers’ crown last weekend by scoring a one-two finish at the Central European Rally. Although two rounds still remain, Hyundai no longer has any chance of overtaking Toyota.
Toyota drivers Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta have all scored manufacturers’ points for the team this year. Pajari, on the other hand, has competed under Toyota’s satellite outfit, meaning he has not yet officially achieved a manufacturers’ title himself.
Pajari hopes that this will change in the future.
“It has been really an honour to be part of this team. Obviously I’ve not been around for as long a time as all the other drivers here, and also I was not bringing this championship title, let’s say, home. But maybe one day it will be also on my responsibility a little bit more,” Pajari said.
Pajari certainly deserves at least a small share of Toyota’s success. The Finnish driver has done valuable work for the team, even if this season has been mainly about gaining experience with Rally1 machinery.
“Still, in some of the races I’ve been able to take some points away from the team rivals. So I was bringing some small part for this championship. But looking forward to more in the future,” Pajari commented.
At Toyota, Pajari has had the chance to drive alongside truly world-class team-mates – and that has clearly been a benefit.
“It’s really nice to learn from these guys. But they are at this moment not making the competition so easy for us, the slightly less experienced ones,” Pajari laughed.
The penultimate round of the World Rally Championship season will take place in Japan from 6–9 November.
