For the first time since its return to the World Rally Championship in 2017, Toyota will field four cars on every round in 2021, with Takamoto Katsuta starting his first full campaign.
The 27-year-old, who will drive a works Yaris WRC alongside team-mates Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä, had his program confirmed on Friday – at the same time Toyota’s former driver Jari-Matti Latvala was revealed as its new team principal.
Katsuta demonstrated great progression through 2020, but that was balanced by a couple of heavy accidents in Estonia and Sardinia. The year ended on a high, however, with his maiden powerstage win at Monza Rally earlier this month.
“This was a very difficult season for everybody and it was not easy to learn like usual, but my performance and my driving has improved since the beginning of the year,” said Katsuta.
“Of course, the rally results were not there but there were still some good stages, and I have a better understanding about different conditions and car set-up.
“It’s been a good experience for me and my confidence is definitely much better than before. Thank you to the team and everyone around me who have supported me a lot. I’m very excited for next year and to be there with the Toyota Yaris WRC once again: thank you to Toyota Gazoo Racing for giving me this special opportunity.
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“I will try to improve and take some good results on the rallies where I am more confident about the stages.”
Katsuta will continue to be co-driven by Briton Dan Barritt, but will now be mentored and instructed by Toyota test driver Juho Hänninen. The multi-talented Finn also previously acted as Katsuta’s ice-note driver and Latvala’s co-driver.
“I’m very happy to be working closer with Juho next season: I know him very well and I have been testing with him and sitting next to him in the car. He’s obviously a very good driver, he has many years of experience and he understands the car very well. I’m sure I will become a better driver with his advice.”
Hänninen added: “I’m really happy to see how much Takamoto has improved this year. In the end there were not so many rallies but if you look back at, for example, the speed he showed in Estonia and then especially the last rally at Monza, I’m especially proud of how he came back in difficult conditions with really good stage times.
“For sure, his speed has improved a lot and next year I think it will again be much easier for him: He will be in the car more often and there are many new rallies, which will make it more equal and easier for him to compare himself against the other drivers.”
Katsuta began his 2021 preparations with a one-day test in the French Alps earlier this month, where he again impressed Hänninen.
“I’m looking forward to being with him on every rally, working with him more closely and helping him with car set-up, as we did already in testing for Rally Monte Carlo last week,” the Finn said. “There are plenty of areas that we can work on and need to work on, but I’m confident that he can achieve some good results.”
Next month will mark Katsuta’s third start on the Monte Carlo Rally.
The second round of the season – widely expected to be a snow rally in Finland – could work in Katsuta’s favor. He scored his maiden outright win aboard a Yaris WRC in full winter conditions at the Joensuu-based Itäralli last year.
In a season when Japan finally returns to the WRC calendar, Katsuta makes history for his country, with the successful graduate of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Challenge Program becoming the first Japanese driver to undertake a full season at rallying’s highest level.
He has a best result of seventh from his seven World Rally Car starts in the WRC so far, although he looked like improving on that in Estonia until his crash.
