Rally of Paraguay: Sami Pajari leads after stormy first stage

Finnish driver Sami Pajari holds the lead after the first stage of the Rally of Paraguay 2026, an event that has already faced significant challenges. Pajari, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, finished the initial stage ahead of his competitors.

Hayden Paddon is currently in second place, trailing Pajari by 21 seconds. Elfyn Evans follows in third, with Adrien Fourmaux and Joshua Mcerlean rounding out the top five. Notably, local driver Diego Domínguez Bejarano is also in contention, sitting in seventh position.

The rally's second stage is now underway, with drivers tackling the Hohenau 1 stage. However, the event was impacted by severe weather. A morning storm swept through Encarnación, causing considerable damage to the teams' service park facilities. Images shared on social media showed the extent of the destruction, with one driver noting, "A morning in the middle of a storm that destroyed everything in its path… It looks like it’s going to be a wild day ahead!"

Despite the adverse conditions and the damage to infrastructure, the rally is proceeding. Drivers are navigating the stages, with Takamoto Katsuta opening the second stage. The resilience of the teams and organizers is being tested as they continue the competition amidst the aftermath of the storm.

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It looks like it’s going to be a wild day ahead!