Toyota will expand its World Rally Championship entry to five cars at selected events next year following confirmation Sami Pajari will join the team for a maiden full-time Rally1 campaign.
Fresh from sealing the WRC manufacturers’ title in dramatic fashion at last weekend’s Rally Japan, Toyota has unveiled its 2025 plans, which also include four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen taking up a deputy team principal role.
Pajari will join a driver line-up headlined by the full-time return of two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera following his decision to conduct a partial season this year.
Rally Japan winner Elfyn Evans, who finished this year’s championship as runner-up, will return for a sixth season with the team, alongside Takamoto Katsuta. Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier will continue on a part-time basis.
Pajari had been tipped to land a role in Toyota’s Rally1 programme after impressing in three GR Yaris Rally1 outings with the team this year while also piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to the WRC2 title.
Podium: Winners Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, second place Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
The 22-year-old Finn finished fourth on debut in Finland, where he scored a maiden stage win, sixth in Chile and was running sixth in Central Europe before a retiring on the final day.
“This is a dream come true for me and Iʼm really grateful to Toyota Gazoo Racing and the team for giving me this amazing opportunity,” said Pajari, who will be guided by a yet-to-be-confirmed co-driver next year after announcing an end to the partnership with Enni Malkonen following Rally Japan.
“There have also been many important people who have been helping me and making this possible. It has been an incredible year for us in the GR Yaris Rally2 and in our first events in the Rally1 car, and although we have now reached the place we were aiming for, I also know that this is where the hard work really starts to learn and to push for good results in the future.”
Team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, added: “We are really happy to continue with the same drivers who have been performing strongly for us over recent seasons, and to have more drivers strengthening our efforts for the full championship.
“Sami has made great steps this year and we are confident that heʼs ready to move up to the highest level.”
After taking four of Toyota’s eight wins this year in his partial season, Rovanpera says he is motivated to return to fight for a third world title.
“This year has been quite different for me, driving a few different cars and still winning some rallies at the same time,” said Rovanpera.
“Itʼs been a nice year, but itʼs also given me a lot of motivation to return for the full season, to push together with Jonne for the driversʼ and co-driversʼ titles and do our best with the team to win the manufacturersʼ championship too.”
It is anticipated that Ogier will contest a more traditional partial campaign next year after competing in 10 of 13 events in 2024, claiming three wins (Croatia, Portugal, Finland).
“We have already had five very fantastic seasons together with a lot of victories and success and Iʼm really looking forward to continuing this story,” said Ogier.
“Once again my main goal is to give my support to the team in the manufacturersʼ championship in a partial programme, and hopefully we can manage to reclaim all three titles.”
Juha Kankkunen, Jari-Matti Latvala, Team principal Toyota Gazoo Racing
Photo by: Toyota Racing
WRC legend Kankkunen lands new role
Toyota has confirmed Latvala will continue in his role as team principal, although he will dovetail that with a campaign in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship driving his own Toyota Celica ST185 in Toyota factory colours.
As a result, former factory Toyota driver and brand ambassador Kankkunen has been appointed deputy team principal to assist the operation.
“It is a great pleasure for me to take on this role with the team,” said Kankkunen.
“During my career I drove with many different teams but I had nine years in total with Toyota: it was the first manufacturer to give me an opportunity in the WRC, and I believe it is probably the best team in the world. There are very good people and the cooperation has always been excellent between Europe and Japan. This team spirit and teamwork is very important and everybody is pushing together.
“Iʼm really happy to work more closely with them and to help the team where I can.”
