Takamoto Katsuta set the fastest time on Rally Chile’s shakedown stage, beating Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux by an impressive 2.4 seconds.
Katsuta endured a troubled Rally del Paraguay two weeks ago with two crashes in three days; the latter fracturing co-driver Aaron Johnston’s collarbone and leaving him out of Rally Chile.
Reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier was fastest on the first pass of the 3.5-mile stage, but Katsuta, alongside stand-in navigator James Fulton, rose to the top of the timesheets after his second run.
Fourmaux – who continues to search for a breakthrough WRC victory – led Hyundai’s charge in second, 0.1s clear of Sami Pajari who could win a fourth WRC event in a row in Chile.
Fellow Finn Esapekka Lappi set the same best time as Pajari, but lost over a half a minute on the first pass when he lost the rear of his Hyundai and nudged a bank, unable to correct the slide. Lappi had four attempts at the shakedown stage, more than anybody else.
Team-mate Thierry Neuville was fifth fastest, 2.8s shy of Katsuta’s pace with Ogier eventually ending up sixth, just a tenth behind Neuville.
Jon Armstrong was the faster of M-Sport’s two drivers in seventh, promising to take a measured approach as he searches for a solid overall finish. Team-mate Josh McErlean was 0.9s adrift in eighth.
Oliver Solberg and WRC points leader Elfyn Evans completed the top 10; Evans 10.2 shy of Katsuta’s ultimate pace.
