Toyota confirmed on Thursday that Yanaguida and Ogata have been selected for the team’s Challenger Program, which aims to nurture future Japanese rally stars for the sport’s highest level. The drivers were chosen from nearly 100 applicants to participate in the development program.
Yanaguida, 24, is already a familiar name to Toyota’s WRC team’s top star, Kalle Rovanperä. Yanaguida and Rovanperä have previously competed against each other, albeit not in rally stages.
With a strong background in drifting, Yanaguida has made a name for himself in motorsports. Last year, Rovanperä faced Yanaguida in the final of Japan’s Formula Drift event but had to settle for second place.
Yanaguida began his rally career this year, finishing fourth in the Morizo Challenge Cup, a competition held alongside the Japanese Rally Championship. Now, he and his “classmate” Rio Ogata are preparing to relocate to Finland, where they will train under Toyota’s rally professionals.
Yanaguida and Ogata were selected after the final stage of the selection process, held in Lapland
“I was really happy when my name was called as one of the selected drivers. We were able to drive a variety of cars on the ice, and the instructors gave me a lot of precise advice on how to take the line, move the car, use the brakes. I learned lots of things through the week,” Yanaguida recalls.
Although Yanaguida is still a rookie in rallying, his ambitions are high. His compatriot, Takamoto Katsuta, has demonstrated that it’s possible to rise to the top through Toyota’s WRC Challenge Program.
“I believe that participating in the Challenge Program is the beginning of a new life for me, so I will do my best to become a top WRC driver, although I know it will be a tough road,” Yanaguida admits.
Rio Ogata, meanwhile, has no prior experience in rallying. His background includes competitions in gymkhana and sim racing.
Toyota’s Challenger Program head coach, Mikko Hirvonen, emphasises that the hard work begins now for the pair.
“They are able to handle a car but there are many more things involved in becoming a more complete athlete, on the mental side and the physical side, and there’s always a lot of work to do with pacenotes,” Hirvonen explains.
