Katsuta (2026) 16x9
Katsuta (2026) 1x1

Takamoto
Katsuta

Japan

Japan

·

WRC

Takamoto Katsuta became a WRC winner in 2026, following his Safari Rally breakthrough with victory in Croatia and a spell leading the championship.

Key Facts

Nationality

JAP

Date of birth

17.03.1993

Birthplace

Nagoya, Japan

Co-driver

Aaron Johnston

First WRC rally

2016, Rally Finland

WRC wins

2

First WRC win

2026, Safari Rally Kenya

First WRC stage win

2020, Rally Monza SS16

WRC stage wins

65

First WRC podium

2021, Rally Kenya

WRC podiums

11

First WRC Wolf Power Stage win

2020, Rally Monza

Best overall WRC event result

2nd Safari Rally Kenya 2021 & 2024, Rally Sweden 2025

Best overall WRC season result

5th (2022)

About Takamoto Katsuta

Takamoto Katsuta achieved his long-awaited first WRC victory at Safari Rally Kenya in 2026, then won again in Croatia to become the first Japanese driver to lead the world championship.
His route to rallying began on racing circuits, where he competed in Formula Challenge Japan and Japanese Formula 3. Joining Toyota's driver development programme in 2015 brought a move to Finland and a new focus on the stages.
Katsuta made his WRC debut in 2016 and claimed his first WRC2 victory on snow in Sweden in 2018. Selected World Rally Car appearances followed before a full programme in 2021, when second place in Kenya delivered his first outright podium.
Further podiums and stage wins established him within Toyota's line-up, although a maiden victory remained elusive until 2026. With Aaron Johnston alongside, he mastered a demanding Safari before backing it up on Croatia's asphalt. The two wins demonstrated his progress across very different surfaces, and he ended the season sixth in the championship with 11 career WRC podiums.
Takamoto Katsuta

Takamoto Katsuta

© WRC

WRC photos 2026

WRC Rally Chile Biobío 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

WRC Rally Chile Biobío 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC | @World

WRC Rally Chile Biobío 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ James Fulton

WRC Rally Chile Biobío 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ James Fulton

© WRC | @World

WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Secto Rally Finland 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC | @World

WRC Secto Rally Finland 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC | @World

WRC Delfi Rally Estonia 2026

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WRC Delfi Rally Estonia 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC / @World

WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC / @World

WRC FORUM8 Rally Japan 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC / @World

WRC FORUM8 Rally Japan 2026

© WRC / @World

WRC FORUM8 Rally Japan 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC / @World

WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Rally Islas Canarias 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

© WRC Mediaroom/Red Bull Contentpool/Jaanus Ree

WRC Rally Islas Canarias 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Croatia Rally 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Croatia Rally 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Croatia Rally 2026, Takamoto Katsuta/ Aaron Johnston

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WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

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WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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WRC Rally Sweden 2026, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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WRC Rally Sweden 2026, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2026, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2026, Takamoto Katsuta

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WRC Season Launch 2026

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Katsuta (2026) 16x9

© WRC

WRC photos 2025

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Sweden 2025

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Sweden 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Sweden 2025

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Sweden 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Islas Canarias 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Islas Canarias 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Italia Sardegna 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Rally Italia Sardegna 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Delfi Rally Estonia 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Delfi Rally Estonia 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Secto Rally Finland 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Secto Rally Finland 2025

© WRC

Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston, WRC Secto Rally Finland 2025

© WRC

WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay 2025, Katsuta

© WRC

WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay 2025, Katsuta

© WRC

WRC Rally Chile 2025, Katsuta

© WRC

WRC Central European Rally 2025, Katsuta

© WRC

WRC Central European Rally 2025, Katsuta

© WRC

WRC FORUM8 Rally Japan 2025, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

© WRC / @World

© Toyota

WRC FORUM8 Rally Japan 2025, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

© WRC / @World

WRC Rally Saudi Arabia 2025, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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WRC Rally Saudi Arabia 2025, Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston

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