Katsuta and Rovanperä present their special helmets for Rally Japan

For his first home rally in Japan, Takamoto Katsuta unveiled a special helmet in homage to the Land of the Rising Sun, just like world champion Kalle Rovanperä.

Published on 09/11/2022 à 15:31

Dorian Grangier

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Katsuta and Rovanperä present their special helmets for Rally Japan

The pilots WRC properly celebrate the return of Rally of Japan on the calendar. Absent from the World Rally Championship since 2010, the Asian event returns this season with a very different challenge than that offered at the time. In 2022, the Rally Japan will take place on asphalt, in the region of Toyota, eponymous city of the Japanese manufacturer. And the Toyota team drivers did not hesitate to pay homage to the land of the rising sun with special helmets.

First concerned: Takamoto Katsuta, who will experience his first rally at home. The Japanese unveiled a blue-colored helmet with falcon feathers, “the emblem of the Katsuta family” explained the 29-year-old pilot. We also find characters in Japanese writing as well as a red dot in reference to the national flag. 

His Toyota teammate, Kalle Rovanperä, also chose to celebrate the return of Rally Japan with an original helmet design. The Finn opted for references to Japanese culture, with pink cherry blossoms, a temple under a sunrise and dragons with a characteristic design from Japanese fables.

The two pilots will be accompanied by Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans for the last round of the season, in Japan. Toyota is aiming for nothing more and nothing less than victory on home soil, to also celebrate the title of manufacturers' champion.

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Dorian Grangier

A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.

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