Katsuta retains Toyota WRC style pressure for 2022
Affirmation of a brand fresh deal comes after step forward maiden corpulent WRC marketing campaign for the Jap driver highlighted by a first podium courtesy of a second recount originate at this yr’s Safari Rally.
The Jap driver made his corpulent WRC debut with Toyota in 2019 and has since headed up the squad’s effective ‘B’ personnel for the final two seasons, flee under the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Suppose moniker.
Katsuta will alternatively be paired with co-driver Aaron Johnston subsequent season as exceptional navigator Daniel Barritt ends his flee with the driving force after a three yr stint. Barritt has been absent from the WRC since sustaining an neck and support agonize alongside Katsuta, which forced the pair to withdraw from Rally Estonia in July.
Keaton Williams became as soon as drafted in as a stand-in for Barritt for Belgium before private components forced him out of the following Acropolis Rally. As result, Johnston, former co-driver to Hyundai’s Oliver Solberg, joined Katsuta from Rally Finland earlier this month.
“I’m having a respect forward to subsequent yr and the fresh abilities of automobile, that will be very titillating and difficult,” stated Katsuta.
“A lot will commerce and I’m in actuality angry to gape how all of it feels within the automobile and moreover what we can conclude. I’m moreover having a respect forward to proceed working with Aaron; we’ve already received a in actuality good relationship and I’m obvious we can invent it even stronger as we attain extra rallies collectively.
“I are attempting to thank Dan very worthy for his big make stronger since 2016. Without it I wouldn’t hold completed any of the supreme outcomes we’ve managed collectively.
“He has given me so worthy recommendation and we had many enjoyable moments, and we can nonetheless be working closely outside of the automobile.
“Thanks to Toyota Gazoo Racing for his or her make stronger. I’m very overjoyed to be working with this personnel and I will proceed to work exhausting to receive good outcomes.”
The info arrives after Toyota confirmed its corpulent manufacturer 2022 WRC driver line-up, spearheaded by Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanpera, while the third automobile will be shared between seven-time world champion Sebastien Ogier and fresh signing Esapekka Lappi.
Katsuta enjoyed a solid first half of the season because the supreme driver to originate the predominant six events within the pinnacle six. Since then his season has been hit by incidents and wretchedness.
In Estonia and Acropolis he became as soon as forced to withdraw as a consequence of components surrounding co-drivers, while crashes forced him out of Belgium, Finland and Spain.
Takamoto Katsuta, Daniel Barritt, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC
Picture by: Toyota Racing