In the opening round of the 2024 World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo, commencing on Thursday, the duo of Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen will stand as the solitary Finnish competitors. The spotlight will be firmly on them over the weekend as they compete in the all new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, making its debut in competitive conditions. The performance of this swift pair, serviced by the Finnish outfit Printsport Racing, will be observed with keen interest.
The classic WRC event kicks off on Thursday evening from Monaco, but in a departure from the past couple of years, the central service park makes its return to the northern city of Gap in France. However, this time around, even the more northerly location does not promise varied winter conditions on the route; instead, the forecast suggests a dry asphalt rally.
“The route has been relatively low on snow by Monte standards, and warm. There was occasional ice noted only in a couple of places during the recce. The forecasts predict warmth during the competition as well. On Monday, we experienced quite heavy rain, which resulted in some muddy sections for Thursday’s stages, but they will surely dry up by the time we arrive there again with rally speeds. What we expect is, as we say in Finland, a proper Midsummer weather: low on snow,” comments Pajari on the anticipated weather for the rally.
Pajari’s participation in the event was halted last year due to the driver falling ill right after the reconnaissance. From two years ago, the memories include a victory in the WRC3 class, providing a mix of favorable and less favorable experiences. The relocation of the event activities to a more northern setting has also brought about changes to the route. While there are new sections for many, familiar ones remain, albeit with some alterations to the driving direction. Pajari’s team welcomes the new segments with enthusiasm but doesn’t necessarily see it as a significant advantage.
“It’s nice that there are new stages; we might be a bit more on an equal footing since we missed the race pace on the route last year. However, there’s tough competition awaiting us. Gryazin, for instance, has always been fast here, and then there are the formidable French drivers Rossel, Lefebre, Bouffier, and, of course, Solberg, who is always a strong contender. Many others as well, so it’s shaping up to be a high-level competition,” reflects the Finnish pilot.
In the history of the WRC, there haven’t been many events featuring only one Finnish crew, and it’s even rarer that this sole representation is at the WRC2 level. In the main category, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen were the only Finnish representatives at the Safari Rally in Kenya in 2022.
“No one has really emphasized beforehand that we are the only Finnish crew in the season opener. There has been more interest due to the new car. With the debut of the car, the goal is, of course, to bring it to the finish line in one piece. However, that doesn’t mean we’ll be taking it easy; we’ll aim to drive competitively. We’re not here for points, so we can drive relatively pressure-free,” concludes Pajari.
The shakedown stage will take place on Wednesday evening, local time, while the pursuit of seconds begins on Thursday night with two special stages located between Monaco and Gap. The combined distance of the Thursday stages is a substantial 46 kilometers. On Friday, three special stages are set in a loop from Gap to the east and south before heading to the service area in Gap. In the afternoon, the same trio of stages will be tackled once again. The total distance of Friday’s stages is almost 106 kilometers.
On Saturday, the route heads south and west from Gap, with another set of three special stages planned before looping back after the midday service. The Saturday stages are slightly longer, accumulating a total of 120 kilometers.
Sunday sees a journey towards Monaco, guided by three special stages, with the final stage located on the legendary Turini. The total distance covered on Sunday is 52 competitive kilometers, contributing to a grand total of over 324 kilometers of special stages throughout the rally.