Rally Japan took place over four days starting on November 6 in Aichi and Gifu prefectures. Team Toyota swept the podium.
This week’s program tracks the progress of driver Takamoto Katsuta. He earned a podium finish in 2022, and in the two years since, has recorded multiple stage-best times. Expectations were high as he faced a fierce battle on his home turf.
In SS3, Katsuta set the best time. By the end of Day 2, he was sitting in second place overall, with Sébastien Ogier leading and Elfyn Evans in third—separated by just 10.2 seconds. The battle for victory among the Toyota drivers only grew fiercer.
Everything changed on Day 3 during SS11. Katsuta clipped a barricade on a corner, damaging the power steering. He grimaced as he struggled with a steering wheel that had become as heavy as a rock. With guidance from the engineering team at the service park, he made emergency repairs and managed to complete the final SS of the day, but was ultimately forced to retire for the day.
Overnight, the mechanics completed repairs, allowing him to return for the final day. “I’m truly grateful that they fixed the car for me… And despite the rain, so many people have come out to cheer from early morning. I want to express my gratitude by keeping a good pace all the way to the end,” he said. Katsuta went on to set the fastest times in SS17 and SS18. Even after suffering a puncture and spinning in the final SS, he pushed through to the finish.
Chairman Akio Toyoda watched over the four-day battle, saying, “Regardless of the final result, I believe many fans in Japan were able to witness Takamoto’s growth. If anything, I think it made them want to cheer him on even more.”
Watch this week’s video to see Katsuta push through adversity with unyielding determination—and with heartfelt gratitude for his teammates and fans.