The team principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala, says that a crash happens to every driver and it was time for Sami Pajari to have an accident from which he can learn more for his future.
The Finn driver made his WRC debut with the GR Yaris Rally1 at his home event where he finished in fourth place overall while he replaced Takamoto Katsuta at Rally Chile last month which means that he made his second appearance with Toyota at the top level. However, the Japanese team gave to him the chance to drive the Yaris Rally1 on the tarmac stages of Central European Rally where he was sixth overall at the end of Saturday. Despite the consistency he showed previously, Pajari rolled his car 5,1Km into the opening Sunday stage and was forced to retire with three stages remained until the end of CER. The incident happened when he went wide in the corner resulting in losing the control of his Rally1 car. Last but not least, he may join Toyota's satellite team alongside Sebastien Ogier next year while now his focus is at Rally Japan as he has the chance to be crowned as the WRC2 Champion for 2024 season.
"It was an unfortunate accident and not a massive one, a small mistake that he paid quite a big penalty for", Latvala said.
"But every driver, when you are driving and you are fighting, you will have one or two mistakes every season.
"He has been very consistent overall, so I think at some point it comes and now it was the time to do a mistake for him, but it’s part of learning".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Toyota
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