Sami Pajari’s Rally Finland victory reconnects a young contender with the Flying Finn legacy and moves him to second in the 2026 WRC standings.
Sami Pajari’s Secto Rally Finland victory delivered a home celebration and reconnected the World Rally Championship’s most successful driver-producing nation with the tradition established by the original Flying Finns.
A rare modern home victory
Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen prevailed after Sébastien Ogier crashed while leading. The result gave them consecutive WRC wins, just two weeks after their breakthrough in Estonia, and lifted Pajari to second in the 2026 championship, 30 points behind Elfyn Evans.
The result held particular historical significance because Finnish victories at the country’s signature rally have become less frequent. Pajari is the first Finnish driver to win Rally Finland since Esapekka Lappi in 2017.
Finland’s unmatched roll call
Finland has produced more drivers’ world champions than any other country, with 14 titles shared among seven drivers:
- Juha Kankkunen: four titles
- Tommi Mäkinen: four titles
- Marcus Grönholm: two titles
- Ari Vatanen: one title
- Hannu Mikkola: one title
- Timo Salonen: one title
- Kalle Rovanperä: two titles
That depth sets Finland apart from countries whose historical totals center on one dominant figure. France has produced the two most successful drivers, nine-time champions Sébastien Loeb and Ogier, while Finland’s record stretches across a greater number of title-winning careers.
Three distinct eras of dominance
Finland assembled its record in waves. Vatanen, Mikkola and Salonen captured consecutive championships from 1981 through 1985, with only Walter Röhrl in 1982 interrupting the run. Kankkunen followed by claiming four titles between 1986 and 1993.
Mäkinen then delivered the country’s longest sustained individual run, winning four consecutive crowns from 1996 through 1999. Grönholm added titles in 2000 and 2002 before Loeb’s era moved the championship’s balance toward France.
Rovanperä ended Finland’s 20-year title drought in 2022, then won again in 2023. He secured his first crown at age 22, becoming the WRC’s youngest drivers’ champion.
Drivers versus manufacturers
Success by nationality among drivers does not match the manufacturers’ standings. Lancia still sets the standard with 10 manufacturers’ championships, including six in a row from 1987 through 1992. Toyota and Citroën created dynasties across multiple eras, while Finnish drivers often won titles with foreign marques.
Kankkunen offers a clear cross-era example through his championships with Peugeot, Lancia and Toyota. He remains the only driver to win the WRC title with three different manufacturers.
A legacy Pajari can extend
Two victories do not yet put Pajari alongside Finland’s seven champions, but they have returned a young Finnish contender to the heart of the standings. Paraguay, Chile and Italy bring different surfaces and conditions, setting up the next test of whether his northern speed can develop into the adaptable consistency that defined Finland’s greatest champions.
