As the 2024 WRC2 season heads to a thrilling conclusion at the FORUM8 Rally Japan, all eyes are on the battle between Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg. For both drivers, it’s been a season of highs, but only one will leave Japan as champion.
Solberg’s strong season and the waiting game
Oliver Solberg, the 23-year-old Swedish sensation, has had an impressive season, leading the WRC2 standings with three victories, two second-place finishes, and a solid fourth in Chile. However, having maxed out his seven allowable scoring rounds, he won’t be competing in Japan. This means his fate now lies in the hands of other drivers — particularly his Toksport Škoda teammate, Gus Greensmith.
“It’s tough to sit and watch Japan happen, but what can we do?” Solberg reflected, knowing he has done everything possible. “I’m really proud of what we have achieved together – it’s been such a strong season for us, and I believe we deserve the title. Now we have to wait for Japan to find out if it comes for us, but we have done all we could.”
Solberg’s consistency and teamwork have been the backbone of his success. He leads the WRC2 class in stage wins, taking first on 42% of the stages he’s entered this season. “The team has all worked so well together – it’s this kind of teamwork that makes it possible for us to win the stages we have won and, of course, three WRC2 rounds,” he said with pride.
Despite missing the chance to race in Japan, Solberg expressed his admiration for the rally and the fans, “I’m a little bit sad for that. I love Japan and the passion that country has for our sport. I would love to be driving there and sharing that event, but, like I said, I can only be happy for what we achieved as a team this season.”
Pajari’s path to the title
Sami Pajari, the 22-year-old Finnish star, enters Japan with a clear mission: secure a top-two finish to clinch his first WRC2 title. Pajari’s journey has been extraordinary, alternating between Rally1 and Rally2 cars this season, with two top-six finishes in the premier Rally1 class. Now, he returns to the GR Yaris Rally2, confident but focused.
After his recent runs in Chile and the Central European Rally in a Rally1 car, Pajari shifted his focus to Japan. “As soon as I finished in CER, I was focusing on Japan and the fight in WRC2,” he said. While he acknowledges the excitement of driving a Rally1 car, he sees advantages in returning to Rally2. “Of course, it would be nice to stay in the Rally1 car, and it’s been fantastic to drive it this year, but there are lots of positives going to Japan with the Rally2.”
Japan holds a special place in Pajari’s career. It was his first overseas rally destination in 2022, where he felt the support of Japanese fans and earned a fifth-place finish in WRC2. “The fans are amazing, and it will be really nice to compete on the home event for Toyota,” he shared.
Greensmith’s role in the title drama
While Solberg waits on the sidelines, his Toksport teammate Gus Greensmith has taken on a pivotal role. Greensmith is determined to keep Pajari from securing the top two finish he needs for the title, and he’s ready to take on the Japanese rally’s challenging conditions.
“The best thing I can do to help Oliver in Japan is win,” said Greensmith, who is eager to build on his single WRC2 victory in Kenya earlier this year. Japan’s unpredictable conditions add to the excitement, and Greensmith has a score to settle with Pajari. At Rally Croatia, Pajari narrowly edged Greensmith by three-tenths of a second, a result Greensmith is determined to reverse.
“I didn’t quite get him there,” Greensmith said, recalling the last-stage battle in Zagreb. “That’s what we’re focused on this time around. I’m looking forward to it. I like Japan; it’s one of my favourite places to go.”
A season finale full of drama
As the WRC2 finale approaches, the tension between Pajari and Solberg is palpable. Pajari must battle the field, conditions, and Greensmith’s efforts to secure the title, while Solberg anxiously awaits the outcome from afar, knowing he’s given everything this season. For both, the season has been a testament to their skill, determination, and teamwork.
In a sport that thrives on competition and camaraderie, the WRC2 title showdown in Japan will be an unforgettable chapter in rallying history, crowning a champion in the most dramatic fashion possible.