2016 Training period 3 - Tahko SM-Ralli
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program is well underway in Finland, led by Tommi Makinen. Through the program the two young Japanese drivers, Takamoto Katsuta and Hiroki Arai competed in Tahko SM-Ralli held on 11 - 12 March.
Training Objectives
It is the last winter training in 2016. As the temperature went up, the road surface got loose and became very challenging. Under such conditions, the training objectives were to get as much experience as possible and to strengthen mentality and judgment through thecompetition.
SCHEDULE
| Day 1 | Driving training (Huhtimaki) |
| Day 2 | Driving training (Riuttaniementie 3.8km, Lahdeahontie 4.6km) |
| Day 3 | Pacenote training (Jukojarvi,Leustu) |
| Day 4 | Travel to Tahko, Administration check |
| Day 5 | Tahko SM-Ralli Day1 (Recce, SS1, SS2) |
| Day 6 | Tahko SM-Ralli Day2 (SS3-SS7) |
Driving and pacenote training
Drivers had three-day-training using various type of stages. Due to the temperature raise, the road surface got loose with deep ruts which made the driving condition very challenging. Mikko Hirvonen also joined the training and checked their driving. During the pacenote training, plan for both drivers was to do more simple notes but still with right level of information. Both had difficulties to make correct pacenotes at some places, but driving went well and smooth.
Glenn Macneall from Australia came to join the team as a co-driver of Hiroki Arai for the Tahko rally. Arai and Macneall's cooperation went well and they showed relaxed feeling together. Katsuta and Barritt also got better confidence for upcoming rally.
Tahko SM-Ralli
| Leg 1 | Leg 2 |
| - SS1 Tahkomaki（14.99km) | - SS3 Niittyjarvi（14.99km) |
| - SS2 Tahkolahti（2.45km) | - SS4 Siikajarvi（32.83km) |
| - SS5 Lastukoski (6.72km) | |
| - SS6 Vuotjarvi (10.00km) | |
| - SS7 Pieksa (23.34km) |
Tahko SM-Ralli, the third round of the Finnish Rally Championship (FRC) driven in Nilsia, Eastern Finland, was also the third rally of the season for Takamoto Katsuta and Hiroki Arai. The rally consisted of seven special stages with a total SS-distance of 107 kilometers. Both drivers drove well in the difficult winter conditions.
For Takamoto Katsuta Tahko Rally was a success, as he drove a clean and sensible rally. Katsuta was playing it safe, as planned, and he was able to meet the goals set for the amount of special stage kilometers. "Extremely difficult conditions and high-speed special stages, so making pacenotes for this rally was a hard task, but now I’m really happy", Katsuta recounted his feelings after reaching the finish line. Under these circumstances fourth place in Group N is a rather good achievement, said instructor Jouni Ampuja.
Hiroki Arai suffered from technical problems on Leg 1. His car was not running properly and he couldn’t even get to the first stage, but was forced to retire. However, under the Ralli2 regulations Arai was able to start on the second day, when there were still five special stages left.
Arai couldn’t find his rhythm on the first few stages on Saturday, but as the day progressed he managed to get closer to his own level, Ampuja summed up. He found much better rhythm on last two stages. On last stage he was at the split times fastest until he stalled the engine in a junction.
The conditions in the Tahko SM-ralli were challenging even for the more experienced drivers. The warm springtime sun made the roads slushy and mushy. Even the highly experienced eight-time Finnish Champion Juha Salo had an off with his Peugeot 208 R5. Norway’s Ole Christian Veiby with his Skoda Fabia R5 and Finland’s Jarkko Nikara with his Mitsubishi Evo 9 fought a hard fight over the overall victory. Nikara lost the battle whilst in the lead due to a broken rear differential on SS 6. Veiby’s winning time was 59:10.7. Fastest in Group N was Teemu Asunmaa with his Subaru Impreza WRX Sti. Asunmaa’s time was 59:37.8. Fourth-placed Katsuta’s gap to Asunmaa was 3:05.7.
DRIVER’S DIARY
Takamoto Katsuta
Takamoto Katsuta?Objectives
To keep careful driving and to check my driving on snow and accuracy of my pacenote
Impression of Tahko ralli
Stages were consisted of combination of high speed and low speed corners, and road condition was challenging with loose surface and gravel surface and deep ruts. Lots of cars went off course and it made many corners without snow bank and this kind of condition required me instant judgment.
What I learned
Communication with Daniel went well and I could stay calm all the time. I was able to physically learn the driving with keeping safety margin. The rally was quite difficult as it was my first experience to drive on deep ruts with 4WD, but at the end I learned to be able to distinguish the ruts I can go in from the ruts I should avoid just by looking at them. This rally meant a lot to me!
Comments from instructor
Katsuta made a solid drive through the rally and he handled the car well under the difficult conditions. He has made consistent progress in his handling skill and pacenote skill during this winter. His further objectives will be strengthening the reaction to English pacenote and his fitness level.
Summary
The most important thing in winter rallies for Katsuta and Arai was to make sure that they would get the maximum experience. Tahko rally was very challenging to all drivers including experienced local drivers, but we were happy that both of them showed very good drive to finish the season. We still have a lot to do when considering the goals set for 2016, but the progress has been positive and the drivers have learnt a lot. The project has been proceeding as planned. You can expect their further progress in summer!
Hiroki Arai
Objectives
To keep careful driving and to check my driving on snow and accuracy of my pacenote
Impression of Tahko ralli
It was a difficult rally with many junctions. Because of the deep ruts driving lines got limited. Going off the ruts makes the car extremely slow down and it takes time to get back the right speed. It was a reverse order starting with 2WD vehicles and I had to drive after more than 50 cars drove, so there were slippery snow layer more than usual.
What I learned
I found out my split time in SS6 and SS7 was quite close to the top driver's, so I got good opportunity to analyze where I'm losing the time and where I need to improve more. I got the second best time in SS6 and the class best in SS7 until I got stuck. I could learn a lot through the rally.
Comments from instructor
Arai faced difficulties in the last rally, but many things have improved towards the end. It was very unfortunate that he no longer had the chance to be included in the final standings of the rally, but he could learn a lot as he found good rhythm on the last two stages. Main things for Arai to further improve will be to strengthen his fitness level and making simpler pacenote.