The virtual chicane was officially used for the first time at Rally Finland, during the high-speed Ouninpohja stage. In Central Europe, the system was used for the first time in an tarmac rally on Saturday.
In a virtual chicane, the driver must slow their car to a specified speed at a marked location. After that, they can step on the throttle again.
At Rally Finland, no driver received a time penalty for speeding in the virtual chicane. However, on the opening stage of Saturday’s Central European Rally, five drivers were penalised for exceeding the speed limit in the deceleration zone.
Katsuta was the only top-class driver who didn’t slow down enough. His speed should have dropped to 50 km/h, but the Japanese driver was clocked at 58 km/h when he stepped back on the gas.
The virtual chicane had already received criticism in Finland because the system relies on a GPS system. The driver or co-driver must look down at the centre console to check the display and see when the speed has reduced sufficiently.
Katsuta was unaware of his mistake during the stage held on the German side of the rally.
“At that moment, I didn’t know about it. There is a massive delay on the display as well. So it’s very difficult. But first of all, it was my mistake, for sure. But they could do something better for the future because it (virtual chicane) was such a narrow and twisty and polluted corner,” Katsuta explained.
“In Finland it was okay – wide part and long straight – then you can look down. It’s not big issue. But this kind of road, if you look down and you are not looking in the front, it’s not so safe,” Katsuta criticised.
Finland’s national rally championship has tested a different type of virtual chicane that’s radar-based. There, the driver sees from a roadside display when they have slowed down enough.
“That is 100% better. It doesn’t make sense, if you look down. And it’s very dangerous,” Katsuta shared his opinion.
Katsuta is in fifth place at the Central European Rally going into the final day. He had sat out the previous event in Chile after a few disappointing rallies. However, in this rally, held across Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria, the Japanese driver has performed solidly.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala suggested on Saturday evening that Katsuta could go on the attack during Sunday’s Power Stage, aiming to steal crucial manufacturers’ points from Hyundai.
“I have quite a good feeling with the car, so for sure I’m ready for that. On Friday I was fast on the stages where I was pushing quite good. But on the other stages I really backed off, even today. So I’m really looking for that, to be honest,” Katsuta smiled.
“At the same time, I really need to bring the car back. So I need to find the right balance and see the situation.”
