Each year, Toyota’s WRC team selects up-and-coming Japanese drivers to join its rally challenge programme, which is based in Finland. Kogure was part of the so-called “second generation” of the scheme, which began its training in Jyväskylä in early 2022.
Kogure and his teammate Yuki Yamamoto have been competing in the WRC2 category since last season. Over the past two seasons, the 24-year-old’s results have been disappointing – more often than not, his rallies ended in retirement rather than clean runs or strong finishes.
Kogure’s final outing as a Toyota driver was last weekend’s Acropolis Rally in Greece, where he retired after going off the road.
On Friday, Kogure announced that he is no longer part of Toyota’s rally team.
“I’m very sad to announce that I will leave TGR WRC Challenge program today. This means I won’t participate any events,” Kogure stated in a press release.
“It’s been difficult and frustrating events continued since the beginning of this year. I tried to improve this negative situation somehow doing all the things what I can. However, that didn’t fruit straightforward to good result. Of course, improvements could be seen, and I felt time gap got closer to top guys every event. However tiny mistakes resulted in even worse consequences in a row recently to the contrary.”
Kogure did not explicitly say whether the decision to step down was his own or Toyota’s, though his wording suggests the split may have come at the team’s initiative.
“It’s a disappointing decision that I have to stop my journey in the mid-season and will not race. But I understand this is what motorsport is and it’s sometimes harsh.”
Kogure expressed his gratitude to Toyota for the opportunity. He also thanked his co-driver Topi Luhtinen and the driver development coaches, including Mikko Hirvonen, Juho Hänninen, and Jouni Ampuja.
“I’m pretty sure I had huge steps from four years ago, but it turns out something was not enough. At least I did all the effort putting in to improve my driving and to be a top driver. So, I’m very proud of myself all the efforts and achievements I have done in this project and do have no regret,” Kogure said.
“I think drivers need everything to be a top level and you cannot miss any of them. Therefore, I may not have had talent, luck, timing or other facts.”
Kogure said he does not yet know what the future holds for him.
“I still have no idea what will come next, but I am excited to start my new journey from here and am sure it will be fantastic. I hope you guys all the best and see you again somewhere,” he concluded.
