Toyota wants to restart the machine at home

Usually played at the end of the season, the Rally The Japanese Grand Prix will take place at the end of May, and is already shaping up to be the last asphalt race of the 2026 season. WRCThe second half of the world championship will therefore take place on dirt, but that's no reason to take the upcoming event lightly. Toyota City for Jari-Matti Latvala's troops. Indeed, you couldn't have a better home game than one played in the city on behalf of the Japanese manufacturer!

Despite the slight setback in Portugal, where Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe imposed their HyundaiToyota's start to the season has been exceptional, and this gives confidence to the Japanese team's Team Principal, before tackling a home race that is always extremely important for the manufacturer.

“We are looking forward to returning to Rally Japan after what has been a very solid season so far for our team. We may have had a bit of bad luck at the last rally in Portugal, but it is difficult to be invincible in any sport, and we appreciate this strong competition as it makes victories even more rewarding.”

While the teams are becoming more familiar with Rally Japan, its relocation from November to May has the potential to drastically alter the weather conditions, primarily resulting in warmer temperatures. This is expected to have an impact on tire wear, while the Finnish driver anticipates Takamoto Katsuta shining in front of his home crowd, having already won two rallies this season.

“It will be interesting to see how Rally Japan unfolds, being held earlier in the year than usual, as the higher temperatures could affect tire behavior and grip for the drivers. We’ve seen the rally’s popularity grow year after year, and I’m sure the support will be even greater this year after Takamoto’s early-season victories. This will also allow him to approach his home rally with more confidence and fight for the victory he so desires. Of course, Taka’s teammates have also been performing very well on tarmac recently, and they too will be keen to win.”

High expectations for Ogier

After a start to the season that wasn't quite as good as expected, Sébastien Ogier He will indeed be present in Japan, with one of the five GR Yaris Rally1 cars entered. The nine-time world champion is heading to the Land of the Rising Sun with high expectations.

“Participating in Rally Japan is one of the highlights of our season, and it’s fantastic to see that support for and interest in rallying continues to grow year after year in this country. Of course, expectations are also high, but we’ve had some great performances lately, especially on tarmac. So I think we have a good chance for this event and can once again aim for the top spots.”

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