Sami Pajari climbs to fourth at Acropolis rally after penalties shake-up
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 12, 2026, 12:08 AM
Last updated Jul 12, 2026
Sami Pajari secured fourth place in the eighth round of the 2026 World Rally Championship at the Acropolis Rally in Greece on July 12. A late adjustment in standings followed two one-minute penalties issued to Josh McErlean and Adrien Fourmaux for seatbelt violations, which reshuffled positions four through seven. The penalties did not stem from driving mistakes but rather from safety rule breaches that occurred during vehicle recovery. Pajari's elevation in the standings was a result of these penalties, coupled with his competitive performance throughout the challenging event.
- •Pajari moved up to fourth position after penalties reshuffled the standings.
- •McErlean and Fourmaux received penalties for safety rule violations.
- •Both penalties involved co-drivers not being properly strapped in while the car moved.
- •The event showcased the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols.
- •The championship standings could shift significantly based on this event.
- 12:08 AMYahoo Sports — Sami Pajari Calls Acropolis One of His 'Favourite Rallies' After a Late Penalty Shake-Up Lifts Him to P4
"Here's a rally truth that never makes the highlight reel: the classification that flashes up at the finish is provisional, and sometimes the stewards do more damage than the rocks. That's exactly how the eighth round of the 2026 World Rally Championship ended in Greece, where two one-minute penalties handed down after the cars were parked reshuffled positions four through seven — and quietly nudged the title fight. The official final classification tells the story the recaps mostly buried: M-Spo
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