Takamoto Katsuta has admitted he feels “very nervous” about making an error that might price Toyota the producers’ championship at Rally Japan.
Toyota entered the season finale with just one World Rally Championship title nonetheless out there for it to win: the producers’ crown. With outgoing world champion Kalle Rovanperä absent, the duty for erasing Hyundai’s 15-point lead fell to Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Katsuta.
After Ogier misplaced two minutes altering a puncture, Katsuta – who additionally misplaced time with a tire off the rim – has discovered himself in a vital place for Toyota’s title bid, battling Adrien Fourmaux for third place.
Pre-rally anticipation was excessive over Katsuta’s potential Japan efficiency, given he gained 10 of the 17 full-bore particular levels on final yr’s version of the rally. He hasn’t fairly matched these highs in 2024 – which he admitted was as a result of a worry of errors creeping again into his driving.
“Final yr once I was pushing like hell, I used to be having fun with rather a lot,” Katsuta instructed DirtFish. “However now it’s a completely completely different feeling. I’ve to complete the rally, I’m very nervous as a result of I don’t need to make a mistake and be extra on the secure facet on a regular basis.”
Katsuta’s 2024 season has been blighted by incidents, crashing out of podium positions on three events to this point this yr (Sweden, Portugal, Greece).
