DRIVER

WRC CHALLENGE PROGRAM 2025 DRIVER

4TH GENERATION:
Rio Ogata, Kanta Yanaguida

  • Rio Ogata

    Rio Ogata

    Born in Kanagawa, Japan on 27 April 2001.
    He started e-Motorsports in childhood and excelled in national competitions during high school. After entering university, he started real motorsports as a member of automobile club.
    In 2019, he achieved first place in Super Formula Virtual series Grand Final. He also won GT Young Challenge in 2020 and 2021. For the real motorsport, he became a champion of All Japan Student Dirt trial championship. In 2025, he was selected for the fourth generation of the program.

  • Kanta Yanaguida

    Kanta Yanaguida

    Born in Aomori, Japan on 26 January 2000.
    He was exposed to motorsports from a young age and started drifting at the age of 12.
    He is a champion of FORMULA DRIFT JAPAN 2023, and in the same year he also won All Japan Dirt trial event in PN3 class.
    He started his rally career in 2024 as one of the Morizo Challenge Cup drivers, and was selected for the fourth generation of the program in 2025.

CO-DRIVER:
Tomiya Maekawa

  • Tomiya Maekawa

    Tomiya Maekawa

    Born in TOKYO, Japan on 18 March 1992.
    He started his co-driver career in 2012.
    In 2024, he participated in the MORIZO Challenge Cup.
    In 2025, he was selected for co-driver of the program.

3RD GENERATION:
Shotaro Goto, Takumi Matsushita

  • Shotaro Goto

    Shotaro Goto

    Born in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March 2002.
    He started motorsports in his university automobile club.
    In 2023, he achieved first place in JMRC Kinki Gymkhana Middle Series Round 6. He also took second place in the All Japan Student Dirt Trial Championship.
    In 2024, he was selected for the third generation of the program.
    In 2025,he steps up to Rally3 class.

  • Takumi Matsushita

    Takumi Matsushita

    Born in Hyogo, Japan on 23 December 1999.
    He started motorsports in his university automobile club.
    In 2021, he took part in JMRC Kinki, Dirt Trial Division Junior Series, winning four rounds and becoming the series champion.
    In 2024, he was selected for the third generation of the program.
    In 2025,he steps up to Rally3 class.

2ND GENERATION:
Hikaru Kogure, Yuki Yamamoto

  • Hikaru Kogure

    Hikaru Kogure

    Born in Gunma, Japan on 19 April 2001.
    He started karting in 2006 and raced extensively until 2017. He made his rallying debut in 2020 in the TRD Rally Cup.
    In 2021, he competed in the JAF East Japanese Rally Championship in the BC2 class, winning round two and finishing second in the standings.
    In 2022, he was selected as the second generation.
    In 2024, he steps up to the Rally2 class.

  • Yuki Yamamoto

    Yuki Yamamoto

    Born in Hyogo, Japan on 23 February 1997.
    He started rallying in 2018 at the age of 21 in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge.
    In 2021, he took part in the final two rounds of the Japanese Rally Championship and scored two wins in the JN6 class.
    In 2022, he was selected as the second generation.
    In 2024, he steps up to the Rally2 class.

INSTRUCTORS

  • Mikko Hirvonen
    Mikko Hirvonen
  • Jouni Ampuja
    Jouni Ampuja
  • Juho Hänninen
    Juho Hänninen

1ST GENERATION: Takamoto Katsuta

  • Takamoto Katsuta

    Takamoto Katsuta