WRC CHALLENGE PROGRAM 2026 DRIVER
2ND GENERATION:
Yuki Yamamoto
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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.
In 2026, he plans to fully participate in WRC events with Rally2.
3RD GENERATION:
Shotaro Goto, Takumi Matsushita
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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.
After he made a debut with Rally4 car in 2024, he competed in Rally3 class in 2025.
In 2026, he steps up to Rally2 class. -

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.
After he made a debut with Rally4 car in 2024, he competed in Rally3 class in 2025.
In 2026, he steps up to Rally2 class.
4TH GENERATION:
Rio Ogata, Kanta Yanaguida
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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.
In 2026, he steps up to Rally3 class. -

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.
In 2026, he steps up to Rally3 class.
5TH GENERATION:
Hiroya Minowa, Zeal Jones
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Hiroya Minowa
Born in Tokyo, Japan on 15 August, 2009. He started drifting from a young age and made a competition debut at the age of 12.
2023 2nd in Formula Drift Japan series
2024 Formula Drift USA debut, 4th in the series
2025 2nd in Formula Drift Japan series
2025 4th in Formula Drift USA series
2026 Joined in the WRC Challenge Program -

Zeal Jones
Born in Auckland, New Zealand on November 28, 2004 to a Japanese mother and a New Zealand father. He started karting in 2013 and began rally in 2022 and has competed in the New Zealand Rally Championship.
2023 Winner of Rally Challenge in New Zealand Rally Championship
2024 Winner of Junior Championship in New Zealand Rally Championship
2025 2nd in Japanese Rally Championship MORIZO Challenge Cup in Japan
2026 Joined in the WRC Challenge Program
GLOBAL:
Jasper Vaher
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Jasper Vaher
Born in Estonia on 6 March 2007.
He started rallying in 2021 at the age of 14 in the Estonian and Latvian Junior Championships.
In 2024, he stepped up to the European Rally Championship and scored class wins in ERC4 and ERC Junior.
In 2025, he joined the Junior ERC series and was selected for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program as its first non-Japanese driver.
In 2026, he moves up to the Rally2 class.
CO-DRIVER:
Tomiya Maekawa
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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, and became a co-driver champion of SM3 class in the Finnish Rally Championship.
In 2026, he steps up to Rally3 class.
INSTRUCTORS
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- Mikko Hirvonen
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- Jouni Ampuja
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- Juho Hänninen
