No pressure on Pajari after surprise Toyota Rally1

This year, Sami Pajari will have two more chances to make an impression on Toyota in a Rally1 vehicle.

No pressure to perform well in his unexpected two further World Rally Championship Rally1 outings in Chile and Central Europe, according to Sami Pajari.

The team's four GR Yaris Rally1 entries for the gravel rally in Chile will be piloted by the emerging Finnish talent, Toyota confirmed last week, replacing Takamoto Katsuta, the team's full-time driver. The gravel rally takes place from September 26–29.

Additionally, it was revealed that Katsuta will return to the squad after missing Chile for the Central European Rally in October, giving Pajari and co-driver Enni Malkonen another chance to compete in Rally1.

This year, at Rally Finland, Pajari made his Rally1 debut. He did well, placing fourth overall and winning his first stage. Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala stated that the Finn was one of the team's alternatives for a Rally1 driving the following year, given his strong performance in the WRC2 championship. The organization is eager to field three full-time drivers by 2025.

Even though the 22-year-old was taken aback to be offered Rally1 prospects so soon after his Finland performance, he claims that given the situation he is in right now, he is under no additional pressure to succeed.

"It is obviously really nice to get some more experience and more seat time with such a great and fast car," Pajari said. "Obviously, after Rally Finland, I was only hoping for some extra seat time, and I didn't see it coming so soon."

"Driving it is just extremely pleasant, albeit there are challenges, of course. Though things aren't always easy in Chile, I can't wait to get back in the car and find out more.

"This year has been extremely difficult for the team, particularly in the recent past, and for Taka as well. I hope he's doing well and will return to the Rally1 car soon." In addition, though, I'm excited for my own excursion.

"There is no pressure on the outcome; the plan is just to get more experience, more seat time, and the really valuable kilometers with the Rally1 car."

When asked if he feels confident that he could feature in the factory Toyota team more often next season, he added: "Of course, it's nice to see that they are already putting some trust in me based on the results we have been doing this year with the Rally2 car, but also I think in Finland I was still proving some nice things, and I hope to continue the same way. You may also read this; RB Spotted The Problems With Their Barcelona Formula One Upgrade

Naturally, I'm hoping for more seat time in the future, but I can't control it all because it depends on so many other people. I'll just do everything in my power to contribute, and after that, we'll see what the future holds.

With one round left, Pajari is still three points behind Oliver Solberg in the running for the WRC2 title this year. But if Solberg triumphs on the gravel stages in South America, he might win the championship.

I can't get the WRC2 title off my mind completely. Oliver has some control over it," Pajari continued. Our aspirations of winning the crown are somewhat dashed if he is performing exceptionally well in Chile. However, we still have one more round with the Rally2 vehicle this year, and I'll give it my all there as well.

We have already secured three victories and several podium finishes, indicating that the season has been extremely successful for us as well. So, in my opinion, we ought to be quite pleased about it. We will undoubtedly work hard to achieve the finest outcome even if the title is removed.