WRC
Katsuta plans to keep “pushing” after breakthrough season
Takamoto Katsuta says he must keep “pushing” to reach the next level after a breakthrough FIA World Rally Championship season.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver delivered arguably the feel-good story of the year by claiming an emotional maiden WRC victory at Safari Rally Kenya, before following it up with a second win at the next round in Croatia.
His Kenya triumph marked the first time a Japanese driver had stood on the top step of a WRC podium since Kenjiro Shinozuka’s victory at the 1992 Côte d’Ivoire Rally.
Katsuta’s blistering start to the season also made the 33-year-old the first Japanese driver to lead the championship. Alongside co-driver Aaron Johnston, he remained firmly in the title fight after recording top-seven finishes at each of the opening eight rounds.
However, a double puncture in Estonia marked a turning point. Costly retirements in Paraguay and Chile followed during a difficult second half of the campaign.
Katsuta ultimately matched his career-best championship finish of sixth, setting a new personal best points total – 53 more than his previous benchmark, achieved in both 2022 and 2025.
“It’s been quite a nice start at the beginning of the season until the mid-season. Unfortunately, we were not able to fight for the championship until the end, so that was my biggest disappointment. But otherwise there were some good things and bad things. I just need to fix the bad things to be better. It is quite simple,” said Katsuta.
“I need to make more progress. We have been stepping up this year and at least not stepping down. OK, I just need to keep pushing and keep working.
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“I think until Greece it went really well. I was trying to manage, and everything was quite good.
“When Estonia didn’t go as well as I expected and we had to retire, then at this moment I started to think that now I need to take back the points or something.
“I think after this Estonia retirement I started to stress too much, but before it was OK.”
Katsuta ended the season with a much-needed confidence boost as a mistake-free drive secured sixth at Rally Italia Sardegna. The result could have been stronger had he avoided costly punctures on Friday’s opening leg.
“It was good to finish at the end. It was not an ideal rally that started with the punctures, but otherwise no mistake, nothing happened, so it was good,” he added.
Sardegna also marked his final outing in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, a car that will hold a special place in Katsuta’s memories after carrying him to his first two WRC victories.
“We tried to have fun [in Sardegna]. It was quite emotional,” he said.
“Every single effort from every single person from the team made this car. I must say a big thanks to all the team members and I was really proud to drive this car.”
