Takamoto Katsuta said his dramatic crash out of Rally México’s Friday leg began with an “optimistic” piece of late braking.
The Toyota driver was running seventh when he went off down an embankment.
He and co-driver Aaron Johnston were both unhurt.
“Basically what happened was at a very, very high-speed section, I was a little bit optimistic on a braking point or something,” Katsuta explained.
“Then I was a little bit, let’s say, late to turn in and also lost the line.
“So from this moment already the car was on the wrong line and then I was not able to brake into the next corner. So then I went straight to the outside of the corner.”
Basically what happened was at a very, very high-speed section, I was a little bit optimistic on a braking point or somethingTakamoto Katsuta
Katsuta and Johnston had earlier struggled with “a lot of smoke in the car” that left it “really difficult to see anything”, though the problem cleared by the day’s second stage.
He is optimistic that Toyota will be able to get him back in the rally for Saturday.
“Luckily we didn’t roll,” said Katsuta. “Basically we just fell from the road.
“So it’s damaged on basically the dampers or tires, and the front bumper because we went through some poles. But the body panels look quite OK, so hopefully we can continue tomorrow.
“I’m really sorry for the team, I can’t say anything other than this.”
“I’m really sorry for the team, I can’t say anything other than this.”
This is Katsuta’s first attempt at Rally México, which he said was a deceptively difficult event.
“Everything was OK and I was just trying step by step to get feeling but obviously the first time here is very, very difficult,” he said.
“Even when you are careful, there are so many things: rocks, concrete, some wider parts which look easy on the recce but when you come in with a rally car these kind of things can happen and you have a big surprise.
“It’s experience for me. Tomorrow hopefully we can restart and try to get more experience for the future.”
