- Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen secure third consecutive FIA World Rally Championship victory
- Toyota dominates with 173-point lead in manufacturers’ championship
Dubai, UAE – 02 September 2026: GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (GR-WRT) celebrated a historic victory at Rally del Paraguay, with Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen securing their third consecutive FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) win in the No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. Following victories in Estonia and Finland, the result makes the pair the first crew in the championship to claim their first three victories in consecutive rounds.
Akio Toyoda, GR-WRT Chairman, commented: “To everyone on the team who competed in Rally del Paraguay, and to everyone who worked so hard to make the event happen, thank you and congratulations on getting through such a challenging rally week. I saw the photos of the service park after it had been battered by strong winds. Rally del Paraguay is already a tough rally under normal conditions, so I am very relieved that the event was completed safely. Thank you all for your hard work.
And in the middle of all that, Sami and Marko gave us a fantastic victory. Three wins in a row after Estonia and Finland. Congratulations, Sami and Marko! The way the two of you have been fighting back has made the championship battle even more exciting. Sami and Marko, there are still three rallies to go. Keep pushing, enjoy the fight, and go all out for the championship. I’ll be cheering for all of you.”
Rally del Paraguay presented crews with a demanding combination of bumps and compressions, sharp rocks hidden beneath the clay-like surface, and high temperatures. The near-constant threat of heavy rain added another challenge, with the Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 vehicles fitted during the rally with snorkel systems usually seen only at Safari Rally Kenya.
Pajari and Salminen faced an early setback when a water leak on the opening stage dropped them as low as seventh overall. After managing the issue until it could be fully repaired at service, the pair recovered to take the lead by the end of the opening leg.
They gradually extended their advantage to 24.1 seconds during the penultimate leg before going on to secure victory by 25.8 seconds. The result completes a landmark run of three consecutive wins for Pajari and Salminen following their maiden WRC victory at Rally Estonia and home triumph at Rally Finland.
The victory sees Pajari maintain second place in the drivers’ championship, as GR-WRT crews now occupy the top four positions in the standings. Toyota continues to lead the manufacturers’ championship by 173 points with three rounds remaining.
Toyota’s motorsports history dates back over 60 years. Reflecting the concept that ‘Roads build people and cars,’ Toyota has competed in a wide range of motorsport disciplines worldwide. Its major successes, achieved under the most extreme conditions, together with the hard-won knowledge and technical insights they have yielded, continue to serve as the foundation for building ‘ever-better’ cars. GAZOO Racing competes in top-level motorsport categories such as the FIA World Rally Championship, as well as in customer motorsport activities using production vehicles.
Round twelve of the 2026 FIA WRC is Rally Chile (10-13 September), held in the forests of the Bio Bío region overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The technical but largely fast stages feature a mix of smooth and abrasive gravel.
Race Notes:
- No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen)
- Position: 1st
- 3 hours, 13 minutes, and 28.5 seconds