Takamoto Katsuta has confirmed that it was a broken alternator that forced him out of Rally of Portugal on Friday morning.
Katsuta had been running an equal fourth overall after two stages on Friday morning, level with Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovanperä and just 5.8 seconds down on then rally leader Ott Tänak.
But Katsuta’s hurry to leave the stop-line of SS2 suggested all was not well aboard his GR Yaris Rally1, and indeed later on the road section, just 500 meters before the start of SS3, he was forced to park up.
Toyota confirmed it was a technical issue, but Katsuta has now explained that a broken alternator was to blame for his retirement – and that it had been affecting him all morning.
“Basically we had to stop before stage three because we had an issue on the mechanical side, basically alternator is not working actually since stage one and we were trying to manage it as much as we can, but at the end just suddenly everything stopped,” Katsuta said.
“On the stage also it’s not so easy and I was saving brakes and everything, but stage times were good, car was working well and I was very happy with the car. So it’s a shame.”
Katsuta had finished fourth on both of his previous two visits to Portugal, but a repeat result now looks incredibly unlikely.
It’s also the second time in two events that the Japanese has retired when nominated to score manufacturer points for Toyota – although unlike in Sweden this was not his fault.
“I wanted to continue but very bad luck,” Katsuta added.
“Of course we will continue tomorrow and the day after tomorrow [where] there are very famous stages, and it’s going to be important for the future to take experience as well.
“Of course it’s going to be very difficult on starting position [first on the road] but I tried to learn as much as I can and on the powerstage of course I try to push as much as I can.”
