Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen win Rally Paraguay

On September 2, 2026, the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team secured victory at the challenging Rally Paraguay, with drivers Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen taking the top spot. This historic win marks the first time in WRC history that a crew has achieved three consecutive victories in their first three races, following previous successes in Estonia and Finland.

The event proved difficult, as Pajari initially fell to seventh place on Friday due to a water leak in his vehicle during the first special stage. After repairs were completed during the midday service, the Finnish duo began a comeback, ending the first day as leaders. On Saturday, they maintained their pace and maturity, successfully navigating the demanding gravel terrain to increase their final lead to 24.1 seconds over their competitors.

This performance highlights the versatility of the team, as they adapted from the high-speed conditions of their previous wins to the mechanical strain of the Paraguayan gravel stages. The team's ability to manage technical issues early in the race was critical to their eventual success.