TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program
Progress on gravel and asphalt in Katsuta’s second top-level start
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program driver Takamoto Katsuta gained further experience in the FIA World Rally Championship’s only true mixed-surface event, the Rally de España, showing strong progress on both gravel and asphalt in his second start at the sport’s top level in a Toyota Yaris WRC.
Based in Salou on the Costa Daurada to the south-west of Barcelona, Rally de España features one day on gravel before the cars are converted to asphalt specification for the final two days. Unlike on his previous appearance in Germany, Katsuta was familiar with the event, having contested it in both 2017 and 2018 in an R5-specification car. Nonetheless, the rally would still provide Katsuta with a significant challenge, with some of the experience that would be gained from the gravel stages not necessarily being applicable for the rest of the event.
Heavy rain earlier in the week added to the demands, leaving grip levels unpredictable and inconsistent on Friday morning. After taking the morning loop to familiarise himself with the stages, Katsuta – co-driven by Dan Barritt – increased his speed in the afternoon, setting times close to the top drivers and ending the day ninth overall. On Saturday morning, a gearbox issue delayed the pair, but they were able to complete the first loop and then attack the same stages at greater speed once the problem was fixed in mid-day service. Katsuta continued to set encouraging stage times through into Sunday’s final four stages, while also ensuring that he reached the finish to gain as much experience as possible.
Jarkko Miettinen (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program instructor):
“Taka took a good step forward in his driving with the Yaris WRC in Spain. He drove the whole rally over half a second per kilometre faster than in Germany and his speed, especially on the gravel stages on Friday, was really promising. There were many split sectors where he drove as fast as the top drivers in the WRC. Although it’s clear that he can’t yet perform that well all the way through every stage, with experience he will be fighting equally with best drivers in the world. This rally also showed us a few areas that we have to concentrate on, but Taka’s consistency and ability to avoid mistakes in the Yaris has been on a high level, and this was one of our main targets this year. Well done Taka and Dan!”
Results:
1 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) 3h07m39.6s
2 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Toyota Yaris WRC) +17.2s
3 Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +17.6s
4 Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +53.9s
5 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (Toyota Yaris WRC) +1m00.2s
39 Takamoto Katsuta/Daniel Barritt (Toyota Yaris WRC) +55m56.8s
What’s next?
Katsuta will compete in Central Rally Aichi / Gifu on November 9-10. Based in the city of Nagakute, this will be a test event for the return of Rally Japan to the WRC in 2020. It will be the first time that Katsuta has driven the Toyota Yaris WRC in Japan, and his first rally in Japan for three years.
Pictures will be uploaded here during the event
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Quotes:
Takamoto Katsuta:
“This rally has been very good experience for me. On the Friday morning, the conditions were more difficult and slippery than I was expecting, so I changed my approach to get through the stages. Then in the afternoon, I tried to improve my driving, I tried to use the car more and I set some positive times, so I was pretty happy. Of course, then it was totally another rally overnight. On Saturday morning we had a few problems with the car, but luckily we could drive through the stages and the team fixed it perfectly in service. In the afternoon it wasn’t easy, doing the stages at full speed for the first time, but I was much closer to the pace than in Germany. Sunday’s stages were quite nice and the confidence in the car was getting better. I’m happy to finish the rally and get this experience. Some good stage times, some mistakes, but it’s all good learning for the future.”