Toyota confirmed this morning that the pair will withdraw from the Greek classic attributable to a household emergency for Williams that has required the Brit to return house straight.
Williams has been standing in as co-driver for Katsuta while traditional co-driver Daniel Barritt recovers from a motivate spoil sustained in Rally Estonia, that pressured the pair to withdraw from the match upfront.
Given the timing the news of Williams’ household emergency, Toyota become once unable to salvage a replacement co-driver and has elected to withdraw Katsuta.
Sooner than the match Katsuta instructed Motorsport.com that Barritt will doubtless be in attendance in Greece nonetheless is now not ready to assemble a comeback, with Williams expected to continue as co-driver for the next round in Finland in October.
“Sadly Takamoto Katsuta and Keaton Williams will now not beginning up the Acropolis Rally after Keaton had to return house attributable to a household emergency,” read a Toyota group tell.
Takamoto Katsuta, Keaton Williams, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Photography
“It become once now not conceivable to reveal in a single other co-driver at this gradual stage, so the decision become once made to now not protect share within the rally.”
Speaking forward of the match, Katsuta become once taking a look for forward to his first Acropolis Rally.
“For sure it will doubtless be tough because it’s a new rally for us and for many of the of us, so it will doubtless be tricky, nonetheless I’m very enraged for the rally. It’s a historic rally and I admire gravel,” talked about Katsuta.
“It would possibly possibly well possibly most likely possibly well well be attention-grabbing as to what’s going to happen. After the final rally it’s better to quit on the aspect motorway nonetheless some sections you will just wish to push as you can’t gain any valid results. I wish to salvage the balance.”
Katsuta’s withdrawal lowered Toyota’s Acropolis Rally entry to a couple autos for championship chief Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanpera.
The Acropolis Rally begins with a huge special stage in Athens on Thursday night time.
