Sami Pajari wins dramatic Rally Finland as Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy finish seventh
FLYING HIGH: The Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) finished seventh in Secto Rally Finland, the tenth round of the World Rally Championship. Pic: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool.
Sami Pajari gave Finland its 200th victory in the World Rally Championship as he won a dramatic Rally Finland, the tenth round of the World Rally Championship where two huge high-speed off-road excursions had different consequences for his teammates Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin.
Although Evans lost time, he went on to finish third and actually extended his championship lead. Ogier and stand-in co-driver Julien Ingrassia were hospitalised as a precaution.
For Pajari, it was back-to-back wins in the series following his maiden victory in Estonia, he finished 26.7s ahead of Oliver Solberg with Evans a minute and 19.5s behind to complete a Toyota top three. The Irish pair of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy were the top M-Sport Ford crew finishing seventh.
Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) led for most of Saturday's penultimate leg where championship leader Elfyn Evans cut the overnight deficit of 16.3s to 11.6s after (SS13) three of the morning stages. Then, 16.1km into the next stage he rolled his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 several times before landing back on all four wheels.
However, as he tried to get back on the stage, the front of his Toyota got stuck in a ditch. Luckily, spectators came to his assistance, and he was able to re-join the action but dropped to fifth some two minutes behind Ogier. Sami Pajari moved into second with Oliver Solberg third.
The pace was intense with Pajari some 20s behind having won his third stage of the day on SS15. There was drama on SS17 when Ogier and stand-in co-driver Julien Ingrassia went off the road at high speed on what was the second pass of Västilä.
Their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 rolled several times, both made an unassisted exit from the car and were taken by helicopter to hospital for precautionary checks.
Pajari inherited the lead and ended the day 46.4s ahead of Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg. Evans, with his car re-fettled, was quickest on the day's final stage to slot into third a minute and 36.3s behind Pajari.
Toyota deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen, who had spoken to Sebastien Ogier told Rally TV;"Seb was more shocked than anything else, nothing broken.”
Fourmaux in fifth was the top Hyundai driver. Josh McErlean led the M-Sport Ford challenge (seventh) after his teammate Martin Sesks crashed on SS14.
Sunday's final leg was a double run over the 30km Himos-Jamsa. Pajari was careful on the first and took a 36.4s lead into the final stage before securing a memorable victory.
"It feels simply amazing, it was a big thing to take first win in Estonia, but a home win is always something special. Winning at home has not been so easy for the Finns but after one really crazy rally we made it. I guess it is more special to win at home. This one was more tough and more intense."
Solberg, having hurt his back following landing over a jump, had to take some painkillers to ease the pain prior to the final stage.
Seventh placed McErlean said; “It's been a crazy weekend with the number of accidents along the way, but we've kept our noses clean. Overall, it was a clean weekend with plenty of positives to take away, and hopefully we can carry that into South America and come away with another good result.”
Jon Armstrong, who finished under Super Rally was sixth fastest on the Power Stage.
Meanwhile, Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) won the Monaghan Rally to extend his lead of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship after the fifth of the eight-round series. He led from the start and went on to finish 19.7s ahead of his brother Sam, who switched to a Dom Buckley prepared Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Donegal's Kevin Eves, also in a Skoda, was 9.6s further behind in third.
Longford's Shane Quinn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) broke Moffett's domination of stage wins on SS5; however, he clattered a bale on the opening stage that damaged the steering and suffered a front wheel puncture on SS3 both of which scuppered his chances.
For Sam Moffett, it was all about acclimatisation and he acquitted himself well as he continued to tweak some settings. Third placed Eves won the penultimate stage as Josh finished off with his seventh stage win to seal victory. Quinn was fourth from fellow Longford driver Tommy Doyle (Hyundai i20 Rally2).
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