At the moment, the only sure thing is that Kalle Rovanperä will leave Toyota after the current World Rally Championship season. Rovanperä is switching to single-seaters and will compete next year in Japan’s Super Formula series.
This year marks Pajari’s first full campaign in the top class of the WRC as a Toyota driver. The Finn is hopeful there will be more to come.
“I think going to Formula One is not exactly the first thing on my mind. At this stage, I have rather different goals,” Pajari quipped when RallyJournal.com asked about his future plans.
Toyota will reveal its 2026 driver line-up after next week’s Rally Japan, holding a press conference on 10 November.
Pajari most likely already knows his plans for next season, but officially he cannot disclose much about his future.
“I’d say the comments from the team have suggested our season hasn’t been bad at all. I’m quite sure we’ll be driving something next year,” Pajari hinted.
This season Pajari has gained valuable experience behind the wheel of Toyota’s Rally1 car in WRC events. Toyota’s management has repeatedly emphasised that this has been a learning year for the Finnish driver, and no major results have been expected from him.
For that reason, it would seem logical for Toyota to offer Pajari a new contract. Otherwise, the team would in a way be wasting a significant investment.
“In a way, that’s quite a reasonable thought behind it. Of course, we’re hoping for that,” Pajari admitted.
“It would kind of feel strange if they dropped me. But you never know in this sport. It’s a highly sought-after seat, so there would surely be many candidates.”
