Toyota will expand its World Rally Championship entry to five cars at selected events next year following confirmation Sami Pajari will join the team for a maiden full-time Rally1 campaign.
Fresh from sealing the WRC manufacturers’s title in dramatic fashion at last weekend’s Rally Japan, Toyota has unveiled its 2025 plans, which also include four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen taking up a deputy team principal role.
Pajari will join a driver line-up headlined by the full-time return of two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera following his decision to conduct a partial season this year.
Rally Japan winner Elfyn Evans, who finished this year’s championship as runner-up, will return for a sixth season with the team, alongside Takamoto Katsuta. Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier will continue with the team on a part-time basis.
Pajari had been tipped to land a role in Toyota’s Rally1 programme after impressing in three GR Yaris Rally1 outings with the team this year while also piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to the WRC2 title.
Podium: Winners Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, second place Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
The 22-year-old Finn finished fourth on debut in Finland, where he scored a maiden stage win, sixth in Chile and was running sixth in Central Europe before a retiring on the final day.
“This is a dream come true for me and Iʼm really grateful to Toyota Gazoo Racing and the team for giving me this amazing opportunity,” said Pajari, who will be guided by a yet to be confirmed co-driver next year after announcing an end to the partnership with Enni Malkonen after Rally Japan.
“There have also been many important people who have been helping me and making this possible. It has been an incredible year for us in the GR Yaris Rally2 and in our first events in the Rally1 car, and although we have now reached the place we were aiming for, I also know that this is where the hard work really starts to learn and to push for good results in the future.”
Team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, added: “We are really happy to continue with the same drivers who have been performing strongly for us over recent seasons, and to have more drivers strengthening our efforts for the full championship.
“Sami has made great steps this year and we are confident that heʼs ready to move up…
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