Electric Cars

Pajari's Command: A Masterclass in Gravel Rallying

Pajari's Unyielding Dominance on Gravel

Sami Pajari, the talented Toyota driver, is on the cusp of securing his first-ever World Rally Championship triumph, demonstrating superior skill and control on the challenging gravel stages of Rally Estonia. His consistent top-tier performance has established a considerable gap between him and the competition, particularly his teammate Oliver Solberg.

The Expanding Lead and Solberg's Pursuit

Pajari initiated Saturday with a comfortable 14.7-second lead over Solberg, building on his flawless record of winning all seven stages on Friday. He further extended this advantage by claiming two more stages before Solberg managed to break his winning streak by securing stages 10 and 11. Despite Solberg's improved comfort with his GR Yaris and his efforts to narrow the lead to 14.1 seconds, Pajari quickly reasserted his dominance in the afternoon, capturing the first three stages of the loop and widening his lead to a formidable 25.0 seconds. By day's end, Pajari had won 12 of the 16 stages, underscoring his exceptional form.

Solberg's Reflections: Caution Amidst Speed

Oliver Solberg acknowledged that his vehicle's handling on Saturday was significantly better than the previous day, almost mirroring his successful run in last year's Estonia rally. However, the Monte Carlo victor admitted to exercising caution in certain sections, prioritizing a safer approach to prevent tire issues, which ultimately impacted his ability to fully challenge Pajari's blistering pace. He candidly remarked on the balance between risk and commitment needed to outperform his teammate.

Intense Duel for the Final Podium Spot

The competition for third place was fiercely contested between Hyundai stablemates Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville. Fourmaux began the day with a 7.5-second buffer, but Neuville aggressively chipped away at this lead, reducing it to a mere 1.9 seconds before the day's ultimate stage. Neuville's charge was particularly impactful in stage 15, where he gained 4.2 seconds on Fourmaux, marking Hyundai's first stage victory of the rally. Despite Neuville's strong finish, Fourmaux managed to maintain his hold on the third position heading into Sunday's final two stages.

Optimism and Strategic Declarations from the Challengers

Fourmaux expressed satisfaction with his day's performance, highlighting effective tire management despite significant wear and his enjoyment of the stages. Neuville, equally content with his afternoon and tire strategy, conveyed excitement for Sunday's showdown, eager to see who would ultimately claim the podium finish. Their comments set a tone of anticipation for the concluding legs of the race.

Ogier's Struggle and Evans' Ascent

Reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier faced difficulties due to improving road conditions, which disadvantaged his earlier road position. Unable to match Neuville's speed, Ogier concluded the day in a distant fifth place, acknowledging the challenge of advancing further. Meanwhile, championship leader Elfyn Evans, initially hampered by opening the road on Friday, made substantial progress on Saturday, climbing from ninth to sixth. His recovery was partly facilitated by an exhaust manifold issue that forced Josh McErlean to retire and a puncture suffered by Martins Sesks.

WRC2 Standings and Katsuta's Test Session

The top ten was rounded out by Jon Armstrong of M-Sport Ford and Robert Virves, the Estonian WRC2 frontrunner, who held a 10.1-second class lead over Finland's Roope Korhonen. Takamoto Katsuta of Toyota, having suffered a double puncture on Friday, rejoined the rally for what was essentially a test session, gathering valuable data for his team.

The Grand Finale: Two Stages Remain

The rally will culminate on Sunday with two runs through the 24.39km Kaariku stage, promising a thrilling conclusion to this high-octane even

Ahead of the Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 race weekend, the Ardennes circuit was already expected to be one of the most demanding tracks in terms of energy management. According to many drivers on the grid, qualifying – which delivered pole position for Kimi Antonelli – confirmed exactly that.

Both Max Verstappen and McLaren drivers have voiced concerns about the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations, suggesting the Spa-Francorchamps circuit will undergo a significant transformation. They describe the future driving experience, particularly in the critical second sector, as akin to handling a Formula 3 car equipped with Formula 1 levels of downforce. This comparison underscores a perceived reduction in power and an increased reliance on mechanical grip, fundamentally altering how the iconic track's challenging corners, such as Pouhon, will be navigated.

Fernando Alonso previously highlighted that the primary issue for drivers is navigating the second sector with minimal MGU-K deployment, leading to a noticeable absence of electric power. This technical limitation results in a significantly altered and less thrilling experience through corners like Pouhon, which traditionally demands maximum commitment. Verstappen elaborated on this, explaining that much of the second sector would rely solely on the combustion engine, producing power comparable to a Formula 3 car despite retaining Formula 1 downforce, thereby diminishing the excitement of driving.

The current F1 power units, when operating solely on the internal combustion engine without MGU-K assistance, generate approximately 540 horsepower. This is notably less than the roughly 620 horsepower produced by the Mecachrome engines utilized in Formula 2, further emphasizing the power deficit F1 drivers will face in Spa's middle sector under the new regulations. While Verstappen's comparison to an F3 car might not be entirely precise, given that F3 cars have around 380 horsepower, his sentiment reflects a considerable change in vehicle dynamics.

Verstappen, while maintaining a humorous tone, acknowledged his reluctance to continually critique the 2026 regulations, feeling that his opinions might not be well-received within the F1 community. He stated his intention to mentally adapt to these changes and make the best of the situation, even if the new driving experience doesn't align with his preferences. He recognized that simply abstaining from racing wouldn't solve anything, underscoring his commitment to doing his best under the evolving circumstances.

The criticisms voiced by Verstappen resonated with other drivers, including Williams' Carlos Sainz and both McLaren drivers. Lando Norris, who had previously noted in China that the challenge of Pouhon would shift away from driver bravery, further elaborated that the fast double left-hander would effectively cease to be a traditional corner. He also highlighted a reduction of approximately 50 km/h through Blanchimont, a view corroborated by his teammate Oscar Piastri. Piastri expressed disappointment, lamenting the loss of Pouhon's character as a great and personally favorable corner, attributing the change to the differing power dynamics when exiting corners with and without MGU-K deployment.

The varied power output, fluctuating between nearly 1,000 horsepower with electric assistance and 550-600 horsepower from the combustion engine alone, presents a substantial challenge for drivers to adjust their approach from one corner to the next. This dynamic shift in performance led Verstappen to characterize the circuit as fundamentally different in 2026. Drivers remain hopeful that the situation will improve as the balance between combustion and electric power is gradually adjusted, with a target of a 60-40 split by 2028, aiming to restore some of the traditional driving excitement.