Team that wins – and is about to do so – does not change. Toyota Racing announced this morning that Takamoto Katsuta, its driver from the program helping young people level up in rallies, will race the entire 2022 WRC season as a starter.
The Japanese, who already this year took part in all the WRC events at the wheel of the fourth Yaris WRC Plus, will race at the wheel of the fourth hybrid GR Yaris Rally 1, effectively completing the entire line-up of the Japanese manufacturer for the next season.
Katsuta convinced Toyota with good results this season. We remember on all the fourth places obtained in Portugal and Sardinia but, above all, the great second place at the Safari Rally, in Kenya, behind only Sébastien Ogier.
In the announcement made this morning by Toyota, the announcement of the new co-driver is very important: Katsuta will no longer race together with Daniel Barritt. After the recent outings with Aaron Johnston, the Japanese was convinced and decided to confirm the Irish navigator even though he has not yet obtained noteworthy results.
Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston
Photo by: Takamoto Katsuta
Recall that Katsuta had to do without Barritt after the injury suffered by the British navigator at the Rally of Estonia, while the two were in the podium area. Subsequently the Japanese was sailed by Keaton Williams for an event before the latter was forced to give up for family reasons. At that point, Aaron Johnston was chosen, just left on foot by Oliver Solberg.
“This season has been very good for me. At the beginning of the season I decided to proceed step by step and things are getting better and better. It was fantastic to finish on the podium in Kenya. After that event, things were more difficult, but I’m learning from these complicated moments and I hope they can be a good experience for me in the future “.
“I can’t wait to race with the new hybrid car and with Aaron (Johnston, ed) next to me. We have built a great relationship and I’m sure we will be even stronger after doing several races together.”
“I want to thank Daniel (Barritt, ed) for his support from 2016 to today. Without that I would not have been able to grasp the good results we have achieved together. We will work together again outside the car. Thanks also to Toyota for the support, they are very happy to be racing for the team and will continue to work hard to bring home important results. “
Juho Hanninen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC instructor, added: “I am very happy that Katsuta can still have the opportunity to race the entire season at the highest level in the WRC. He has already raced all season this year and into 2022. he will be able to have even more experience when the season kicks off in Monte-Carlo. “
“At the same time there will be so many new aspects with the introduction of the new Rally1 cars, he will have to adapt to those. I think what Takamoto has done over the course of this year could be a very good approach to stick to next season: finishing the cars. races, get good results and build confidence in the car. When this aspect is well under way, he can try to increase the speed and we can see what he will be able to do with that type of cars. I’m confident, I think he can do well too. Next year”.
* Pilot yet to be confirmed
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