Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen completed the Croatian round of the World Rally Championship with a commendable third-place finish in the Rally2 category. Competing with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, which had debuted earlier this year on the tarmac of Monte Carlo, the duo showcased a significant progression in pace, as evidenced by several top times over the course of the rally.
Unlike previous rallies, the Finnish pair did not compete for points in the WRC2 class in Croatia but focused instead on gauging their development since the season opener at Monte Carlo and breaking the long spring break in preparation for a busy summer schedule.
The rally, held amidst unpredictable weather conditions, had teams and drivers strategizing tire choices from as early as Friday. The complexity of conditions was heightened by overnight snow, and the lack of a midday service break, testing the teams’ endurance through eight special stages covering 120 kilometers.
Pajari’s team started cautiously on Friday, trailing slightly behind the leaders, but made a marked improvement towards the day’s end, nearly clinching the top time by a mere 0.2 seconds on the penultimate stage.
“We are sailing through the rally quite smoothly, adjusting to the car and conditions. There’s room for improvement, but all is well,” Pajari noted midday. His performance surged in the afternoon, reflecting a more aggressive approach.
A particularly challenging day in Croatia ended with Pajari behind the day’s leader, Nikolay Gryazin, by over a minute. However, the gap per kilometer was a tight 0.5 seconds, underscoring the competitive nature of the rally.
Saturday brought expected rains, complicating tire choices further. Despite this, Pajari and Mälkönen managed to secure the fastest time on two stages, enhancing their overall standing to third by day’s end.
Sunday began with a robust performance, maintaining a close second on the opening stage and leading the third. Despite a strong challenge from Gus Greensmith, Pajari concluded the rally just 0.3 seconds ahead in the overall standings, securing a third-place finish.
“Planned to push hard right from the start, and despite some hairy moments, we held our position,” Pajari remarked after an intense final stage.
This performance not only demonstrated a marked improvement from Monte Carlo but also solidified the capabilities of the Toyota GR Yaris under challenging conditions. As the team prepares for the next event, the focus will be on refining adjustments and building confidence in slippery conditions.
Results from the Rally2 class confirmed Nikolay Gryazin as the winner, with Pajari and Mälkönen trailing by a minute, slightly narrowing the gap from the previous days.
Results – Rally2 category
1. Nikolay Gryazin BG 2:49:44.9 Citroen
2. Yohan Rossel FRA +38.2 Citroen
3. Sami Pajari & Enni Mälkönen FIN +1:01.4 Toyota
4. Gus Greensmith GBR +1:01.7 Skoda
5. Pepe López ESP +2:41.0 Skoda