Toyota’s newly homologated Rally2 car debuted victoriously in Japan, with experienced driver Katsuta winning Rally Mikawawan. Norihiko, the father of Toyota’s WRC team member Takamoto Katsuta and aged 55, secured first place, finishing 21.2 seconds ahead of Hiroki Arai, who was competing in a Skoda.
The rest of the competitors finished well behind the leading pair. Osamu Fukunaga took third place in his Skoda, followed by Fumio Nutahara and Katsuhiko Taguchi, both driving Toyota Rally2 cars.
Reigning Japanese Rally Champion Heikki Kovalainen announced before the event that he would have to miss the event due to an “unexpected medical issue”. Kovalainen is scheduled to compete this year in Toyota’s newest model.
Taguchi, who finished fifth, replaced Kovalainen in the season opener. Katsuta felt the absence of the Finnish driver in the competition.
“Arai was quite fast, and Heikki (Kovalainen) is expected to return, so it seems we are in for some challenging battles this season,”, Katsuta said, according to Rallyplus.net.
Last year, Katsuta finished second in the Japanese Rally Championship behind Kovalainen. He competed in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car, which at the time was still an unclassified concept vehicle.
“The car felt completely different from last year’s prototype; it was very easy to drive. I could push with confidence,” Katsuta explained.
