Chapter I: Sami Pajari’s Blinding Ascent
While Sami Pajari was always highly regarded as a future star, his performance at Rally Estonia 2026 exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. Stepping into the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 under the TGR-WRT2 banner, the 24-year-old Finn drove with a level of confidence and authority that left seasoned veterans in his wake.
His Friday performance was nothing short of legendary. By sweeping all seven special stages, Pajari became only the second driver in modern WRC history to secure a clean sweep of a full leg on fast gravel. Rather than cracking under the pressure of Saturday’s long stages or Sunday’s sudden downpours, he managed his pace like a multi-time champion, securing his maiden WRC win and moving up to third in the championship standings.
Chapter II: The Heartbreak of Takamoto Katsuta
Entering Rally Estonia as second in the championship standings, Takamoto Katsuta had a golden opportunity to close the gap on leader Elfyn Evans. However, the high-speed Estonian stages proved to be incredibly cruel to the Japanese driver.
Running sixth overall on Friday, Katsuta sustained severe tire damage on the day’s final forest stage. Due to the high wear rates on the abrasive gravel, he had already used his allocated spares and was forced to retire on the spot. Although he restarted on Saturday and Sunday under SuperRally rules salvaging a single point on the Power Stage his 21st-place overall finish represents a massive blow to his 2026 title ambitions.
Chapter III: Esapekka Lappi’s Perplexing Slump
One of the most disappointing performances of the weekend came from Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi. Making his first start since Safari Rally Kenya, the experienced Finn was expected to challenge for the podium, especially given his strong history on fast gravel and a third-place finish in Estonia in 2023.
Instead, Lappi was completely off the pace from the shakedown. He struggled to find confidence in the i20 N Rally1’s handling, complaining of a lack of rear-end stability over the high-speed crests. Finishing a lonely eighth, over three minutes behind the winner, Lappi admitted to being deeply perplexed by his struggle to extract competitive times, raising serious questions ahead of his upcoming home event in Finland.
Chapter IV: Resilient Recoveries for Sesks and Armstrong
In contrast to those who faltered, Mārtiņš Sesks and Jon Armstrong proved that resilience pays off in the World Rally Championship. Sesks’ weekend seemed compromised before it even started when a heavy impact during the Thursday morning shakedown damaged his Ford Puma’s steering, leading to a late service exit and a 20-second penalty.
Armstrong suffered a similar fate, losing significant time due to a puncture on Friday’s opening stage. However, both drivers refused to give up. Sesks drove a highly mature rally to climb back to seventh overall, while Armstrong showcased impressive speed to claim ninth, proving that M-Sport Ford’s young chargers can overcome major setbacks on the fastest roads in the world.
Chapter V: Robert Virves Defies the Finnish Coalition
In WRC2, local hero Robert Virves delivered a performance that sent the Estonian crowd into raptures. Facing a formidable Finnish onslaught from Toyota factory-backed drivers Teemu Suninen and Roope Korhonen, Virves knew he had no margin for error in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
The Estonian drove a flawless race, combining local knowledge with precise tire management. Despite Suninen’s blistering speed on Sunday, Virves held his nerve to secure a 7.6-second victory, climbing to second in the standings. His triumph, along with a €25,000 prize, highlighted his status as one of the most promising young talents outside of the premier Rally1 class.
