GAZOO Racing World Rally Team secured a podium sweep at the 75th anniversary edition of Rally Finland, with Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen winning the event. The victory in the No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 marks their second consecutive FIA World Rally Championship win.
Teammates Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson finished second in the No. 99 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin completed the podium in third place driving the No. 33 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. This result extends Toyota’s lead in the automotive manufacturers’ standings to 174 points.
GAZOO Racing Dominates Rally Finland
Akio Toyoda, Chairman of the team, congratulated the drivers on their performance during the event.
“Sami, Marko, Congratulations on your back-to-back victories and on winning your home rally! It was truly wonderful to see three of our crews standing together on the podium in Jyväskylä.”
Akio Toyoda, GAZOO Racing World Rally Team Chairman
Mechanics Perform Rapid Repairs
Specifically, the mechanics replaced the front and rear bumpers, side panel, bonnet, tailgate, left headlight, and right-side door. Toyoda praised the team’s mechanics for repairing the No. 33 car in 30 minutes. The rapid repair allowed Evans and Martin to return to the competition without receiving any penalty.
Challenging Weather Conditions
The event took place on the fast forest roads of central Finland. Unpredictable weather and rapidly changing conditions created a challenging contest throughout Rally Finland. Pajari and Salminen secured their victory by 26.7 seconds after adopting a measured approach through the final stages.
Consequently, Solberg and Edmondson overcame wet conditions to secure their second consecutive runner-up finish. They also topped the Super Sunday classification. Meanwhile, Evans and Martin recovered from a roll during the penultimate leg to finish third and win the final Power Stage by 0.025 seconds.
Championship Standings and Next Round
Notably, this victory represents the 200th win by a Finnish driver in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship. Following the conclusion of Rally Finland, Toyota now holds the top five positions in the drivers’ standings. Evans leads the championship by 30 points, followed by Pajari, Katsuta, Solberg, and Ogier.
Furthermore, the eleventh round of the 2026 championship will be Rally del Paraguay, scheduled for August 27 to 30. The event will take place on demanding red clay roads near the Argentine border. Toyota continues to use its motorsport experiences to develop production vehicles to support its global business.
