Sami Pajari wins Rally Finland as Sébastien Ogier crashes out, title hopes fade
Finnish driver Sami Pajari claimed his second straight WRC victory on home soil, while a high-speed crash for nine-time champion Sébastien Ogier likely ended his bid for a tenth world title.
Pajari's home triumph
Sami Pajari, a 24-year-old Toyota driver, won Rally Finland on Sunday after the 20th and final special stage. He beat Swedish teammate Oliver Solberg by more than 26 seconds. The victory came just two weeks after his maiden WRC win in Estonia. Pajari had moved into the lead on Saturday evening when Sébastien Ogier crashed out of the rally. He then managed his advantage through Sunday's stages to seal the win on home soil.
Ogier's high-speed crash
The defining moment of the rally occurred on Saturday, 1 August, during the 17th special stage. Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia were leading when their Toyota Yaris left the road at high speed, roughly 800 metres from the stage finish. The car rolled multiple times and hit trees. The stage was immediately stopped with a red flag. Both occupants were conscious and able to exit the vehicle. Ogier was flown by helicopter to a local hospital; Ingrassia was transported by ambulance.
The crew of car #1, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, was involved in a high-speed accident. Both crew members received immediate medical attention on site. The driver is being flown by helicopter to a local hospital, while the co-driver is being transported by ambulance for further examination.
Later on Saturday, Ogier posted on Instagram to reassure fans. He said that examinations had been reassuring and that they would stay overnight as a precaution. He thanked the team for building a strong car and his co-driver for looking after him and contacting his family. The pair were discharged on Sunday morning with no serious injuries.
The main thing is that we are in one piece. Thank you to the team for building such a strong car. I also want to thank Julien Ingrassia for taking great care of me immediately after the shock and for reassuring my family about my condition. We are going to rest now and make sure we get back to full fitness quickly, and thank you for all the messages we have received.
- Ogier crashes at high speed on stage 17; red flag; Pajari inherits rally lead.
- Ogier and Ingrassia discharged from hospital after overnight observation.
- Pajari wins Rally Finland, beating Solberg by over 26 seconds.
Championship implications
Ogier, a nine-time world champion, had missed two rallies earlier in the 2026 season but was still in the title fight before Finland. His retirement from the rally, with four rounds left, leaves him with almost no chance of a tenth crown. Elfyn Evans, the championship leader, also had a scare on Saturday when he rolled his Toyota, but he was able to continue and finished third. The result extends his lead in the drivers' standings.
Other notable performances
Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai) finished fourth, ahead of teammate Thierry Neuville in fifth. Esapekka Lappi (Toyota) was another high-profile retirement after crashing out earlier in the event.
