日本語Toyota City, Japan, December 22, 2015—Toyota GAZOO Racing has announced its schedule for the Toyota GAZOO Racing Challenge Program in 2016.
The program was launched last year to support and train passionate young drivers to potentially become world-class rally drivers. After a highly competitive selection process, Takamoto Katsuta and Hiroki Arai were chosen for the program. Both took part in a Europe-based training program that started in June under instructors from Tommi Makinen Racing.
As the program enters its second year, winter training will be conducted in Finland so as to allow Katsuta and Arai to further refine their skills by focusing on driving in icy and snowy conditions. Thereafter, based on their performance during the winter training period, consideration will be given to more advanced training during the summer. Similar to the previous round in 2015, the challenge program will also offer opportunities to participate in various rallies around Europe.
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- Takamoto Katsuta
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- Hroki Arai
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Rally Schedule
◆Finnish National Rally Championship
- January 28-30:Arctic Lapland Rally（Finnish National Rally Championship round 1）
- February 26-27:SM Vaakuna Ralli（Finnish National Rally Championship round 2）
- March 11-12:Tahko SM-Ralli（Finnish National Rally Championship round 3）
- June 10:Sastamala-Huittinen Ralli（Finnish National Rally Championship round 4）
- August 19-20:SM-Ralli Turku（Finnish National Rally Championship round 5）
- September 23-24:Pirelli Ralli（Finnish National Rally Championship round 6）
Note: Participation in other rallies will be announced later.
Co-drivers
Takamoto Katsuta: To be announced in January
Hiroki Arai: Phil Hall (UK)
Vehicle
Subaru Impreza (R4)
Instructors
- Supervisor： Tommi Mäkinen
- Chief Instructor： Jouni Ampuja
- Support Instructor： Mikko Hirvonen, Jarmo Lehtinen
Reference: Driver Results in 2015
| Area | Event | Takamoto Katsuta |
Hiroki Arai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | SM-Ralli Turuk（Finnish Rally Championship round 5） | 4th in class | 3rd in class |
| Leppavirta Rally Sprint（Finnish Sprint race） | 2nd in class | 3rd in class | |
| Pirelli Ralli（Finnish Rally Championship round 6） | Retired | Retired | |
| Rally Latvia（Latvian Rally Championship） | Retired | 3rd in class | |
| Japan | Rally Fukushima（Japan Rally Championship round 5） | 2nd in class | Did not participate |
| Shinshiro Rally（Japan Rally Championship round 9） | 1st in class | 6th in class |
