Although it only joined the WRC schedule for the first time in 2021, the Ypres Rally has a long-standing reputation as one of Europe’s most challenging asphalt events, with its fast and narrow farmland roads lined by large drainage ditches and often covered in dirt. Having crashed out of last year’s event, Katsuta came into the weekend looking to build confidence and gain further experience in only the second pure asphalt round for the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID car.

A transmission issue during Friday morning meant several minutes were dropped but Katsuta put that behind him and worked his way back up the overall leaderboard, moving from 18th to seventh during Saturday morning alone and gaining another place that afternoon as other drivers fell foul of the limited margin for error. As well as being consistent, Katsuta also set some great times, going fourth-fastest in Saturday’s first stage and the afternoon repeat. In some other stages he was held back by a lack of hybrid power, but gained one more place on Sunday and ended the rally strongly with the fifth-fastest time in the Power Stage.

Finishing in the top six for the eighth rally in a row, Katsuta and his co-driver Aaron Johnston are now the only crew to have finished every round this season inside the top 10.

Quotes:
Takamoto Katsuta:“I have to be happy to have got through this rally. Unfortunately on day one we had some issues and I almost had to stop completely but thankfully we were able to continue, and thank you to the team for fixing the problem. After that, to finish where we did is really good. Saturday was a really positive day for me. I tried to improve my pace and when everything was working well I felt quite confident with the car and the driving. These last three rallies were really difficult for me last year so it’s nice to get through them and to finish them in the points. After this weekend I feel I’m getting better and more comfortable on asphalt in this car which is really good for the rallies to come later this season and I hope I can push a bit more in Spain.”

Juho Hänninen (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program instructor):“The start of the rally was difficult for Taka, he couldn’t find confidence and was struggling with all of the grip changes, and in the afternoon there was a gamble with the tyre choice that didn’t work out. But after Friday’s issues he started really well straightaway on Saturday morning and the times were really good after that, and luckily the problems with the hybrid system didn’t cost any positions. To finish fifth overall and fifth also in the Power Stage is really good after all of the issues. I’m really pleased with how Taka improved his driving here compared to last year, and also from the last asphalt rally in Croatia. It was a big step and it gives a lot of confidence for the two asphalt rallies we have coming up at the end of the season.”