Pajari crashes on penultimate Saturday stage in WRC Rally Islas Canarias

Toyota’s Sami Pajari has crashed out of the World Rally Championship’s Rally Islas Canarias after he suffered heavy damage with a barrier. 

Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

On the penultimate stage of Saturday’s running, Toyota looked to complete another day with a top-five lock-out, headed by their dominant two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera. 

The 12th stage, Tejeda – San Mateo 2, was a 23.3km epic stage, the second-longest test of the day. However, Pajari was forced to stop at the side of the road following a collision with the barrier. 

The Finnish driver understeered and ran wide on a left-hander as he neared the end of the stage. As a result, he collided with the barrier, damaging a series of segments in the process. 

Rovanpera continues form on Saturday morning in WRC Rally Islas Canarias

Thankfully, the crew were okay and quickly retired to the side of the road, in a position where they weren’t going to impede their fellow teammates who were on their way through. 

The car had suffered significant damage, and it was not possible to continue.

Pajari’s retirement marks the first Rally1 retirement of the weekend, following a close encounter for M-Sport Ford’s Gregoire Munster, who beached his Rally1 Puma in dirt on the previous stage. 

However, the Luxembourg driver was able to continue with help from nearby spectators. 

It also marks an end to Toyota’s complete dominance of the weekend, as they previously held out a 1-2-3-4-5 lockout up to this point. Pajari’s retirement will promote Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux to fifth. 

One more stage is left to run on Saturday, the 1.8km Las Palmas de Gran Canaria test, which marks the 13th and final run of the day.

Read more WRC here:

• Rovanpera continues form on Saturday morning in WRC Rally Islas Canarias
• Rovanpera dominates opening day of WRC Rally Islas Canarias
• Weather Report: WRC Rally Islas Canarias 2025
• FIA announces Malcolm Wilson nomination as Deputy President for Sport
• WRC Rally Islas Canarias: 2025 Entry List
• Evans remains WRC Safari Rally Kenya leader after day three

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.