Pajari makes it three wins in a row
Sami Pajari won the WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay, his third consecutive victory after Estonia and Finland — a genuine hot streak at exactly the point in the season where it matters most. Hayden Paddon's Hyundai finished second, 25.8 seconds back, with Adrien Fourmaux completing the podium in another Hyundai, 40.0 seconds off the pace.
It's Pajari's most complete stretch of the season, and it's arrived just as the championship picture has tightened behind him.
How Paraguay played out
Pajari's Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, co-driven by Marko Salminen, crossed the finish in 3:13:28.5 — comfortably clear of the field. Elfyn Evans, Pajari's closest championship rival, could only manage fourth, 45.1 seconds back, behind both Paddon and Fourmaux. Oliver Solberg rounded out the top five, over two and a half minutes off the win after losing time earlier in the rally.
The title fight tightens
Pajari's run of maximum points has cut into Evans's championship lead in a way one bad Evans weekend alone couldn't have. Evans still leads on 216 points, but Pajari has closed to within 20 on 196 — a gap that looked far more comfortable for Evans just three rounds ago. Oliver Solberg sits a more distant third on 175. See our Evans vs Pajari title fight breakdown for the full picture of how this fight has developed.
What's next
The championship heads to Chile for the Rally Chile Bío Bío, September 10-13 — see our Chile preview for what's at stake as Toyota also chases a record-equalling manufacturers' title.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the WRC Rally del Paraguay 2026?
Sami Pajari, his third consecutive win after Estonia and Finland. Hayden Paddon finished second and Adrien Fourmaux third.
How did championship leader Elfyn Evans do at Paraguay?
Evans finished fourth, 45.1 seconds off Pajari's winning time — enough to let Pajari cut into his championship lead.
How close is the 2026 WRC title fight after Paraguay?
Elfyn Evans leads on 216 points, with Sami Pajari now within 20 points on 196 after three straight wins. Oliver Solberg is third on 175.
When is the next WRC round after Paraguay?
Rally Chile Bío Bío, September 10-13, 2026.
Sources
Pippa has followed open-wheel racing for 12 years, from Formula 1's turbo-hybrid era to IndyCar's short ovals, and has watched competitive sim racing grow from a niche hobby into a genuine motorsport discipline in its own right. She covers circuit and open-wheel racing, touring cars and esports for CNMOTOS.
View all articles by Pippa Cook →
