WRC 2026 result after Round 11: Rally del Paraguay

Toyota Gazoo Racing continued its 2026 FIA World Rally Championship campaign with young rally star Sami Pajari completing an historic hat-trick of wins by claiming victory at Rally del Paraguay. How did this WRC 2026 result play out, and what other dramas took place? Read on as we review each day’s activities.

Sami Pajari has completed a historic hat-trick of wins with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team by claiming victory at Rally del Paraguay.

WRC 2026: Rally del Paraguay

Coming into this rally – the first of two consecutive challenges on South American gravel – Toyota was 174 points ahead in the manufacturers’ championship, and all five drivers/co-drivers occupied the top five places in their respective standings. At this point in the season, the team had the opportunity to clinch Toyota’s sixth successive overall WRC championship – if that advantage grew by at least six more points.

The team’s eyes were therefore fixed firmly on the prize. But Paraguay’s fast road stages demanded absolute concentration, as the red clay surface provided changeable grip levels, while significant bumps and sharp rocks tested the cars and tyres.

Day 1

Following a ceremonial start in the city of Encarnación the night before, day one’s route around the surrounding gravel roads quickly lived up to the reputation it earned last year. In the opening stage Takamoto Katsuta rolled his GR Yaris Rally1 after coming into a sharp bend too fast, while Sébastien Ogier (below) also showed strong pace but then ran wide, hit a bank and sustained too much suspension damage to continue. Both drivers were forced to retire so their cars could be repaired overnight.

Similarly, Oliver Solberg made a strong start, winning the first two stages to build an early lead. But then he lost power in a chicane on the longest test of the season and needed a human-power jump start to get going again. Solberg was then forced to stop again on the same stage to change a wheel, all of which added up to a four-minute concession.

Championship leader Elfyn Evans also had tyre issues but was able to carefully manage the situation in order to capitalise on the greater problems experienced by others. As a result, Evans climbed to third at the end of the morning loop – one place ahead of team-mate and nearest championship rival Sami Pajari (above), who had been slowed by a coolant leak. Evans took the rally lead in stage six, only to be struck by another tyre issue, which dropped him back down to third. Thankfully, Pajari experienced no such issues and climbed into the lead with an almost 12 second advantage.

WRC 2026: Day 2

Weather forecasters had predicted enough rain for day two that the team decided to equip all five GR Yaris Rally1 cars with snorkels – as usually seen on Safari Rally Kenya – to keep them from ingesting water through the route’s deep fords. Ironically, however, it was the service park that got hit with heavy rain and strong winds, while the nine stages remained largely dry. So once again tyre management became the main consideration over the abrasive stages.

Pajari extended his lead to 26 seconds within the first three stages, and only lost a couple of seconds after losing high-speed stability when part of his rear wing was ripped off in a slightly misjudged corner. A well-managed afternoon loop restored some of that lost time, and Pajari concluding the day with a healthy 24.1 second advantage. Meanwhile, Evans (above) enjoyed a clean, solid day and maintained third position, and Solberg moved up into fifth.

Day 3

Pajari’s advantage proved unassailable for the other podium contenders, and even increased his lead to 25.8 seconds. In winning Rally del Paraguay, the young Finnish star (below) and co-driver Marko Salminen achieved a world first by recording their first three wins in consecutive rounds of the WRC. While the two previous victories had showcased Pajari’s speed, his success here in South America was built on a combination of damage avoidance and vehicle reliability. The many bumps, compressions and sharp rocks hidden in the clay-like surface, plus the high temperatures and near constant threat of heavy rain kept everybody on their toes.

Team-mate Evans and co-driver Scott Martin also drove a typically well-managed rally to finish fourth and maintain their championship lead. Solberg finished fifth but did so with a final flourish, winning the Power Stage and sharing the winning time on Super Sunday with Ogier. Unfortunately, Katsuta’s rally came to an untimely end with another rollover, this time in the penultimate stage. He and co-driver Aaron Johnston were taken to hospital for precautionary checks but thanks to the strength of the car the pair were well-protected and released later that day.

With all points added up, Toyota’s lead in the manufacturers’ championship now stands at 173 points. There are 180 points still available across the next three rounds, so perhaps round twelve in Chile may be the event to clinch the world title.

WRC 2026 result in Round 11: Rally del Paraguay

WRC 2026 championship: drivers and co-drivers

WRC 2026 championship: manufacturers

WRC 2026: Where next?

Round twelve sees the WRC remain in South America for another gravel challenge. The cars will be rebuilt locally before being transported across the Andes mountains to compete in Rally Chile on 10-13 September. Hosted in the forests of the Biobío region overlooking the Pacific, the stages are technical but largely fast with a mix of smooth and abrasive gravel.

Learn more: How did last year’s WRC end for Toyota?