Sami Pajari Takes Lead in Rally Finland After Sébastien Ogier's Crash

Sami Pajari is in a strong position to win Rally Finland, holding a 46.6-second lead following a serious crash involving Sébastien Ogier on Saturday afternoon.

Ogier, along with co-driver Julien Ingrassia, was leading the rally when their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 veered off the road during stage 17, rolling multiple times before coming to a stop near trees. Both drivers emerged from the incident without serious injuries but were taken to the hospital for precautionary evaluations. The crash led to the cancellation of the stage.

Pajari, who recently won Rally Estonia, now needs to complete two passes through the Himos-Jämsä stage on Sunday to secure victory. Oliver Solberg is positioned as Pajari's closest competitor after avoiding major issues. Championship leader Elfyn Evans, despite facing challenges earlier in the rally, ended the day in third place. Other competitors, including Takamoto Katsuta and Thierry Neuville, also faced difficulties but managed to remain in the race.