Pajari Fights for Lead in Saudi Arabia as WRC Title Contenders Face Road-Cleaning Challenge
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team driver Sami Pajari is locked in a fierce battle for the lead after the grueling first full day of FIA World Rally Championship action in Saudi Arabia. His championship-chasing teammates, however, faced significant challenges due to road-cleaning effects, battling for position further down the field.
Following Wednesday evening’s opening super special stage in Jeddah, Thursday saw crews venture north into the demanding mountains and deserts for two loops of three stages, punctuated by a midday service. The loose, sandy surfaces proved to be a major factor, with early runners significantly impacting the grip and line for those who followed.
Pajari’s Strong Performance on Day One
Sami Pajari, fresh off his maiden podium finish at Rally Japan earlier this month, delivered a powerful performance, strategically leveraging his eighth position in the road order. He surged from the morning’s first stage in the Al Faisaliyah dunes, holding third overall and clinching a stage win in the Khulais test, the final stage of the morning loop. His momentum continued into the afternoon, where he edged past Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai) for second place in the session’s opening stage. A second stage win, this time in the rocky Moon Stage, propelled him into the rally lead, surpassing Mārtiņš Sesks (M-Sport Ford). However, a late tyre damage incident on the abrasive final gravel stage of the day cost him approximately 10 seconds, dropping him back to second. After returning to the Jeddah super special to conclude the day, Pajari sits just 6 seconds behind leader Fourmaux overnight.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing teammate Takamoto Katsuta, running two positions ahead of Pajari in the road order, navigated the day without major incidents, concluding in a commendable sixth place. The top six drivers are separated by a mere 22.9 seconds, underscoring the tight competition.
Championship Contenders Grapple with Road Clearing
The three protagonists for the drivers’ championship – Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, and Kalle Rovanperä – experienced the most adverse effects of road cleaning due to their early positions in the road order. The Al Faisaliyah stage presented the least challenge in this regard, allowing Ogier to record two third-fastest times and finish the day as the leading championship contender in seventh overall.
Rovanperä, initially trailing Ogier, suffered tyre damage in SS4, costing him around 40 seconds. Despite this setback, he managed to regain ground on the day’s final gravel stage, moving back ahead of Evans, who, as the championship leader, was tasked with opening the road. Evans described the day as “tough,” noting the “dramatic” cleaning effect on subsequent stages. “It’s tough to know how well you’re driving when the road is evolving so fast,” Evans commented, affirming his focus for the longer stages ahead.
Kalle Rovanperä acknowledged the difficulty, stating, “Today has been quite tough, but it’s much the same for everybody.” He elaborated on the tyre damage in the morning, which impacted his time and starting positions for Friday. “The cleaning effect is maybe even greater than we thought, so tomorrow can be tough also,” Rovanperä added, remaining optimistic that “there’s still a long way to go.”
Sébastien Ogier echoed the sentiment, calling it a “challenging day like we expected, and with a massive cleaning effect especially in the super twisty sections.” Ogier emphasized his effort to push on the smoother first stage of the loop. “Maybe we can’t see it in our overall position, but I think we did a really good job today. I don’t think there was anything more we could do in our position,” he stated, highlighting his goal of staying ahead of Evans and Rovanperä.
Team Principal’s Perspective and Driver Reactions
Juha Kankkunen, Deputy Team Principal for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, observed the dynamic nature of the rally. “This has certainly been an interesting day to follow with a lot of things changing from one stage to the next,” Kankkunen said. He acknowledged the struggles of the championship contenders due to road cleaning but praised their skill. “They’re the best drivers in the world, so they were making some good lines for the rest to follow!” Kankkunen expressed satisfaction with Sami Pajari’s drive, noting his proximity to the lead. He anticipates more drama as Friday promises a longer and tougher day.
Takamoto Katsuta described the first full day as “tough” due to the heat and conditions, commending the team’s efforts to maintain comfort. He emphasized avoiding mistakes and punctures. Sami Pajari, despite the late tyre issue, remained positive. “It’s been a really positive day for us. To take a couple of stage wins, be consistently close to the top times and even leading the rally at one point is really good,” Pajari remarked. He looks forward to continuing his strong performance on Friday. For more details on driver performance and standings, refer to official WRC reports [wrc.com].
Upcoming Fixtures
Friday marks the longest day of the rally, with 134.34 competitive kilometers spread across another two loops of three stages, separated by a midday service. The challenging terrain and potential for further road-cleaning effects mean that strategic driving and vehicle preservation will be paramount for all contenders. For additional rally news and analysis, explore more on Globally Pulse Sports.
