The so-called third generation drove their first actual rally in Seinäjoki with a Renault Clio Rally4 in the SM3 class. The debut went well overall, as both Shotaro Goto and Takumi Matsushita completed all the special stages and reached the finish line.
Matsushita ultimately finished eighth in the SM3 class. The gap to the class winner, Tuukka Kauppinen, was three and a half minutes over nine special stages. Goto finished ninth in the class, half a minute behind his compatriot.
“The rally wasn’t easy, but I was happy to reach the finish. That was the main thing. I think I drove cautiously enough. The most difficult part was finding the right braking point after a long straight when you can’t see the corner,” said 24-year-old Matsushita.
“Especially on the first day of driving, I had problems with that, but on the second day, I felt better about braking. The car also felt better, and I gained more confidence in the notes.”
The 22-year-old Goto also reached the rally finish with similar thoughts.
“This was the first rally of my life! It was incredibly fun and educational. It was really great to reach the finish without damaging the car. I believe I gained a lot of experience in varying conditions, as it sometimes rained heavily, and the ruts were big. There was also mud on the road, Goto enthused.
“The biggest challenge was being brave enough, and sometimes my notes were too cautious. I think I improved well during the race, which can be seen in the time gaps to the leaders. Now I know better what is important in rallying.”
The coach of the Japanese drivers, former WRC star Mikko Hirvonen, was pleased with what he saw. After all, it was the first proper rally for both Japanese drivers.
“I think it was a good opening race for both Takumi and Shotaro. We are very pleased. The only thing we asked for was to finish the rally. They did that without any problems or mistakes,” Hirvonen smiled.
“We compared their times to the top drivers in the class who have been driving in Finland for years. The time gaps were quite promising, considering the boys were driving for the first time. They handled the pressure well, and this is a good basis to move forward.”
Both Goto and Matsushita will continue their season in the HYAcenter rally on July 26-27. The race is held on traditional stages and serves as preparation for many drivers for Rally Finland.
