Latvala: Katsuta must carry 'Friday feeling' into round six

The Japanese starred once again on the opening day of action in Portugal earlier this month, leading the event on Friday. However, his hopes of a result went south when he damaged the suspension on his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on day two.

Latvala said he is encouraged by Katsuta’s rally leading potential, but felt he needed to take less pressure once he was running at the top of the timesheets.

“What we see in Taka is clearly he is able to be in the lead on Friday. I think with that step he has shown he has the potential. He is capable of driving against the other drivers.”

“I think it's not about the skills. Taka has the skills. It goes more to the mental side because the situation that when you think where you are, the pressure you put more on yourself on the next day of the rally.

“If you know that you are in third position and you can win it, it's the pressure that you start to take to yourself. If we can maintain that relaxed feeling that he has on Friday, that is the target and then probably we can bring it to the end of the Saturday. And then you have the third step on Sunday.”