Katsuta Carries Home Hopes Into FORUM8 Rally Japan
Takamoto Katsuta heads into this week’s FORUM8 Rally Japan carrying the hopes of a nation — and the confidence of a proven FIA World Rally Championship winner.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver arrives at his home event enjoying the strongest season of his WRC career after breakthrough victories at Safari Rally Kenya and Croatia Rally elevated him to second place in the drivers’ standings. Katsuta trails Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans by just 12 points as the championship battle intensifies heading into round seven of the 2026 campaign.
For the Japanese star, however, this rally means more than championship points.
“There is no question, it is full attack. It is very simple. I had difficulties last year and this year I will try to do better.
Of course, to win my home rally would be very nice but we are competing against many great drivers, including my team-mates. I will just focus on trying my best and enjoying the amazing feeling of driving our Rally1 car on Japanese roads.”
said Katsuta
Based in Toyota City and contested across 20 demanding asphalt stages in the Aichi and Gifu regions, FORUM8 Rally Japan moves from its traditional November slot to late May this year. The schedule change is expected to create warmer conditions and alter the character of roads already considered among the most technical on the WRC calendar.
Katsuta’s history at Rally Japan has been a mixture of promise and heartbreak. He celebrated a podium finish when the event returned to the WRC calendar in 2022 before producing an impressive comeback drive in 2023, winning 10 stages after an early setback to finish fifth overall.
Last season brought another painful near miss. Katsuta was firmly in the fight for victory before damaging his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 and losing power steering on Saturday’s Mt. Kasagi stage. The incident dropped him down the order and he eventually finished 17th.
This year, he starts second on the road behind Evans — a potentially favourable position on asphalt where road cleaning can influence grip levels. Interestingly, no driver has managed to win Rally Japan from first on the road since the event returned in its current format.
Evans enters the weekend as championship leader and a two-time Rally Japan winner after back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. The Welshman also has another milestone within reach as he targets the 50th WRC podium of his career.
Meanwhile, Sébastien Ogier remains one of the event’s greatest specialists. The defending rally winner and nine-time world champion is the only current Rally1 driver to have conquered both the gravel-era Rally Japan in 2010 and the modern asphalt version.
Toyota’s line-up is stacked with talent. Sami Pajari returns to the event where he secured the 2024 WRC2 title and claimed his maiden top-class podium, while Oliver Solberg arrives third in the championship standings following another podium finish in Portugal.
Hyundai Motorsport also heads to Japan with renewed confidence after Thierry Neuville delivered the team’s first victory of the 2026 season at Vodafone Rally de Portugal. Neuville won Rally Japan in 2022 and will aim to rediscover that form on Japanese asphalt.
Adrien Fourmaux continues to show promising pace and will look to build on his previous podium success in Japan, while Hayden Paddon returns for the third outing of his part-time Hyundai programme.
M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong face one of the toughest tests of the season as they target a clean and consistent run on roads known for punishing even the smallest mistakes. Narrow sections, low grip and unforgiving margins make Rally Japan one of the most demanding events of the year.
The rally officially begins on Thursday evening before crews tackle Friday’s opening leg featuring the brand-new Asuke stage and the famous Isegami’s Tunnel. Saturday provides the longest and most challenging day of competition, while Sunday’s finale concludes at Lake Mikawako, which hosts the decisive Wolf Power Stage.
With momentum, confidence and home support behind him, Katsuta now has the perfect opportunity to turn years of frustration into a dream victory on Japanese soil.
