GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (GR-WRT)
celebrated a historic victory at Rally del Paraguay, with Sami Pajari and
co-driver Marko Salminen securing their third consecutive FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC) win in the No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. Following victories
in Estonia and Finland, the result makes the pair the first crew in the
championship to claim their first three victories in consecutive rounds.
Akio Toyoda, GR-WRT Chairman, commented, “To everyone on the team who
competed in Rally del Paraguay, and to everyone who worked so hard to make the
event happen, thank you and congratulations on getting through such a
challenging rally week. I saw the photos of the service park after it had been
battered by strong winds. Rally del Paraguay is already a tough rally under
normal conditions, so I am very relieved that the event was completed safely.
Thank you all for your hard work.”
Toyoda added, “In the middle of all that, Sami and Marko gave us a
fantastic victory. Three wins in a row after Estonia and Finland.
Congratulations, Sami and Marko! The way the two of you have been fighting back
has made the championship battle even more exciting. Sami and Marko, there are
still three rallies to go. Keep pushing, enjoy the fight and go all out for the
championship. I’ll be cheering for all of you.”
Rally del
Paraguay presented crews with a demanding combination of bumps and
compressions, sharp rocks hidden beneath the clay-like surface and high
temperatures. The near-constant threat of heavy rain added another challenge,
with the Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 vehicles fitted during the rally with snorkel
systems usually seen only at Safari Rally Kenya.
Pajari and
Salminen faced an early setback when a water leak on the opening stage dropped
them as low as seventh overall. After managing the issue until it could be
fully repaired at service, the pair recovered to take the lead by the end of
the opening leg.
They gradually
extended their advantage to 24.1 seconds during the penultimate leg before
going on to secure victory by 25.8 seconds. The result completes a landmark run
of three consecutive wins for Pajari and Salminen following their maiden WRC
victory at Rally Estonia and home triumph at Rally Finland.
The victory sees
Pajari maintain second place in the drivers’ championship, as GR-WRT crews now
occupy the top four positions in the standings. Toyota continues to lead the
manufacturers’ championship by 173 points with three rounds remaining.
Toyota’s motorsports history dates back over 60 years. Reflecting the
concept that ‘Roads build people, and people build cars’, Toyota has competed in a
wide range of motorsport disciplines worldwide. Its major successes, achieved
under the most extreme conditions, together with the hard-won knowledge and
technical insights they have yielded, continue to serve as the foundation for
building ‘ever-better’ cars. GAZOO Racing competes in top-level motorsport
categories such as the FIA World Rally Championship, as well as in customer
motorsport activities using production vehicles.
Round 12 of the 2026
FIA WRC is Rally Chile (10-13 September), held in the forests of the Bio Bío
region overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The technical but largely fast stages
feature a mix of smooth and abrasive gravel.
Those interested
can follow the official Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages for the latest updates and results from
local, regional and international races. Motorsport enthusiasts are also
invited to discover the GAZOO Racing lineup at Markazia Toyota’s showroom on Mecca Street.
