17-year-old talent Sami Pajari offered the chance to shine at Neste Rally Finland
Sami Pajari of Heinolan Urheiluautoilijat has been chosen as the Flying Finn Future Star for 2019, emerging as the winner of the competition organised by AKK Sports Oy to seek out promising young rally drivers. Along with the title Pajari receives a full rally car and support package for the Finnish round of the WRC calendar, Neste Rally Finland, as well as a fabulous opportunity to show his stuff at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta in the JWRC class at the start of August (1.-4.8.).
The final of the Flying Finn Future Star competition was staged at Liikuntakeskus Pajulahti, Lahti on June 17th-18th. The drivers to reach the final were Lauri Joona, Sami Pajari, Arttu Lähdeniemi and Henri Hokkala, of whom Hokkala eventually did not take part in the final phase.
At Pajulahti the drivers were put through their paces thoroughly using a series of physical and psychological tests. In addition, their language abilities and reconnaissance skills were also assessed before the final interviews. On the basis of the complete test battery the jury eventually gave its nod to Sami Pajari, for whom one big dream is now about to come true.
For Pajari winning tasted particularly sweet, since he took his very first Finnish Rally Championship victory the previous weekend in the SM3 class.
- It feels absolutely fantastic. At the start of the year I’d never have imagined that we’d be going all the way to Neste Rally Finland. Ever since I was a young boy I’ve had this dream. On the day the physical tests were pretty tough, pushing very close to the limit, in order to establish exactly how things stand, but now the feeling is just great,Pajari says with a smile.
Juuso Pykälistö, an experienced rally driver and member of the official jury, was fully convinced that the choice of winner was spot on.
- In terms of maturity Pajari was the best to take on Neste Rally Finland, and performed most evenly with least experience. The event is now less than two months away and then in particular the ability to make pace notes is key, and that’s where he excelled. His methodical approach, analytical skills and attitude to preparation were what convinced us, Pykälistö explains.
The Flying Finn Future Star programme is a great springboard for young drivers, but easy it is not
By winning the final Lahti-based Pajari can realize at least one of his dreams and take part in Neste Rally Finland. The victory means that Pajari follows in the footsteps of previous winners of the title – earlier known simply as Future Star - drivers Teemu Suninen (2014), Jari Huttunen (2015), Juuso Nordgren (2016), Emil Lindholm (2017) and Henri Hokkala (2018). Of these Teemu Suninen in particular has managed to forge a path to the top and enter the world’s elite in WRC.
- On Neste Rally Finland I’ll try to be as good as I can possibly be in every area. I’m going to prepare to the very best of my ability and pull out all the stops where getting to know the route and boosting my fitness, for instance, are concerned. I plan to take every ounce of benefit from the support available around me and the people who are involved in the undertaking, Pajari emphasizes.
Neste Rally Finland’s promoter Jani Backman was also a member of the jury, who were faced with the tough task of settling on a winner.
- First of all, on the basis of the competition results the trio were very evenly matched. Pajari, however, was in the final analysis the smoothest performer across the test as a whole. His development curve has been rapid and he has achieved solid results at such a young age that we have every confidence about putting him into a WRC event, Backman says of the jury’s verdict.
The Flying Finn Future Star competition has received substantial support from both M-Sport and Pirelli.
- M-Sport has always been closely involved in seeking out and supporting young drivers. We are hopeful that collaboration of this type will bring us new winners down the line. This is a fantastic opportunity to compare a new talent to established JWRC drivers, says Maciej Woda, the Managing Director of M-Sport Poland.
The Flying Finn Future Star programme will continue until the end of the Finnish Rally Championship 2019 season, at which point following the same blueprint young drivers will again get to compete for the next top award. The prize during the second part of the competition is a works seat in Junior WRC (or equivalent) for the 2020 season.
Sami Pajari, profile:
Born: 01.12.2001
Place of residence: Lahti
Career: 2016 first competitive drive at Lahti Rallisprint, 2018 Finnish Rally Championship for Young Drivers, first season in Finnish Rally Championship
Car in Finnish Rally Championship series: Ford Fiesta R2
Flying Finn Academy athlete (AKK’s national junior team of motorsport, Rookies group)
Flying Finn Future Star 2019 jury:
Juuso Pykälistö
Experienced WRC driver
Mikko Markkula
WRC co-driver
Jani Backman
Promoter, Neste Rally Finland
Tiina Lehmonen
NEP Finland & Member of FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission
Previous winners of the competition:
2018: Henri Hokkala
2017: Emil Lindholm
2016: Juuso Nordgren
2015: Jari Huttunen
2014: Teemu Suninen
Photo: Aaro Nygård/AKK
