Toyota aiming for ‘maximum points’ in Japan to snatch title from Hyundai

Toyota aiming for ‘maximum points’ in Japan to snatch title from Hyundai

20th November 2024 0 By Kamron Kent

Toyota Gazoo Racing are looking to score maximum points in Rally Japan in a bid to defend their title from World Rally Championship leaders, Hyundai.

Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Whilst Toyota may be down and out in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship, the Japanese team remains in the fight for the team title as they trail Hyundai in the team championship. 

After 12 rounds of the 13-round championship, the defending champions have endured a closely fought season with Hyundai. Going into Japan, the home heroes trail the South Korean manufacturer by 15 points. 

To overthrow the championship leaders, Toyota will aim to achieve a maximum score across the event, similar to what they achieved in Chile. This result will allow the Japanese team to defend their title for a fourth consecutive time. 

Speaking ahead of the event, Toyota GR-WRT Team Principal, said: 

“As one of our home events, Rally Japan is very important for our team and I think it’s going to be a really exciting rally for everyone to follow. All of the main championships are still to be decided, including in WRC2. We still have a chance in the manufacturers’ championship, and we are very motivated and determined to try and win it in Japan. 

“It may take almost a perfect weekend from our side, but we achieved that in Chile which gives us confidence that it’s possible, as does our amazing 1-2-3 finish in Japan last year. It’s a demanding rally for the drivers and at this time of year the weather can be unpredictable, but this also gives us opportunities. 

“Elfyn won there last year and relishes those kinds of conditions, while Seb will want to finish the season on a high and Taka is feeling confident for his home event after his strong finish in Central Europe. 

“Lastly, it has been great to see the performance of the GR Yaris Rally2 car this year, together with that of Sami Pajari, and if he can win the WRC2 title in Japan it would be a fantastic story.”

In a bid to defeat Hyundai for the team’s title, Toyota will be looking to repeat their fortunes from 2023 where the team secured a 1-2-3 victory, the second time the event was held in the forest-covered mountains of Aichi and Gifu. 

Surviving the conditions, which included heavy rainfall and a two-car crash in a ditch outside the iconic tunnel, Elfyn Evans took victory in Japan ahead of Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera. 

Evans and Ogier will return to Japan for the season finale, alongside local hero Takamoto Katsuta for Toyota’s final push for glory. Rovanpera, on the other hand, will miss out on the final event as part of his part-time schedule.

“I am really looking forward to Rally Japan,” commented Katsuta ahead of his home rally. “Of course, I always feel a different kind of pressure at my home rally, but it’s a nice kind of pressure: I am really excited to drive in front of my family, my friends and all the fans. 

“Last year, I felt really good in the car and the weekend went well except for one mistake. This year, I want to try and make a good result happen.

“I think the most important thing will be to assess the situation and the conditions and try to use my performance when I feel confident, a bit like I did on the Central European Rally. It will be challenging but I don’t really mind whether it’s wet or it’s dry: I will do my best and hope I can perform well.”

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Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

CategoryNews Rallying WRC
TagsRally Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR-WRT WRC

About the author

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

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