Challenge Program Team
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Challenge program Team
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Takamoto
Katsuta
Driver
DOB: 17th March 1993 / Hometown: Aichi / Height: 165cm / Weight: 63kg / Blood type: RH+A
Made his Karting debut at the age of 12, and was crowned FCJ (Formula Challenge Japan) champion at the age of 18. Following on from this, he placed 2nd in the Formula 3 series at the age of 20. Then, during 2014, in addition to competing in F3, he also competed in the All Japan Rally Championship, and gained his first victory in the JN class during the 8th round.
Since 2015, having been selected for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Challenge Program, he has been competing in rallies in Europe including 2016 WRC Neste Rally Finland (WRC2 class).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2005
- Karting Race Debut
- 2007
- Placed 2nd at the All Japan Junior Karting Championship ;Placed 1st at the Macau GP Yamaha Cup
- 2008
- Placed 4th (KF1 class) at the All Japan Kart Championship for the Toyota Yamaha Racing Team ;Placed 4th at the World Cup In Suzuka (KF2 class)
- 2009
- Placed 3rd at the All Japan Kart Championship (KF1 class) ;Placed 13th at the World Cup In Suzuka (KF1 class)
- 2010
- Obtained limited A license as a 17 year old ;Placed 8th in the Formula Challenge Japan (FJC) Series
- 2011
- Champion FCJ Series (five wins)
- 2012
- Placed 3rd in the All-Japan F3 Championship N Class Series ; Competed at the All Japan Rally Championship as a Wildcard Entrant
- 2013
- Placed 2nd in the All-Japan F3 Championship C Class Series(2 wins)
- 2014
- Placed 4th in the All-Japan F3 Championship C Class Series (2 wins) ;Made 3 appearances for Toyota 86 in the All Japan Rally Championship, winning his first JN5 class victory in Round 8
- 2015
- Selected for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Challenge Program ;Placed 4th in Round 5 of the Finland Rally Championship as a Wildcard Entrant ;Competed in the Latvian Rally Championship as a Wildcard Entrant ;Placed 2nd in Round 5 (JN5 Class) and 1st in Round 9 (JN5 Class) of the All Japan Rally Championship as a Wildcard Entrant
Hiroki
Arai
Driver
DOB: 2nd August 1993 / Hometown: Gunma / Height: 172cm / Weight: 68kg / Blood type: RH+AB
Made his rally debut at the age of 19, and was soon taking part in the All Japan Rally Championship and the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship ("Rally Hokkaido"). In 2014, he competed in the Japan Rally Championship (JN6 Class), as well as two races in the Austria Rally Championship.
Since 2015, having been selected for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Challenge Program, he has been competing in rallies in Europe including 2016 WRC Neste Rally Finland (WRC2 class).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2013
- Rally debut ;Competed in the All Japan Rally Championship (Open Class) ;Competed in Round 5 of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (Rally Hokkaido)
- 2014
- Competed in the All Japan Rally Championship JN6 Class Race (Championship Class) ;Competed at the Austria Rally Championship as a Wildcard Entrant
- 2015
- Selected for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Challenge Program ;Placed 3rd in Round 5 of the Finland Rally Championship (SM2 Class) as a Wildcard Entrant ;Placed 3rd in Round 7 of the Latvian Rally Championship (LRC1 Class) as a Wildcard Entrant ;Competed at the All Japan Rally Championship as a Wildcard Entrant
Tommi
Mäkinen
Supervisor
Jouni
Ampuja
Chief instructor
Mikko
Hirvonen
Instructor
Jarmo
Lehtinen
Instructor
Marko
Salminen
Co-Driver For Katsuta
Glenn
Macneall
Co-Driver For Arai
Sayaka
Adachi
Co-driver
Adachi won in Japanese Rally Championship four-years in a row from 2010. She participated in two FRC rallies in 2015.
She moved from Japan to Finland for promoting TGR WRC, the challenge program and through the own rally to Japan in 2016.
