Katsuta had been holding fourth place and was also in the fight for big points on Sunday. However, the rally-ending Power Stage proved to be the Japanese driver’s downfall.
Katsuta rolled his car but eventually managed to limp to the end of the stage. His rally still ended in retirement after the final stage, as he was unable to drive the last road section back to the service park.
On Monday, Katsuta reflected on those desperate moments at the Safari Rally. He sent a heartfelt message to the fans who came to his aid after the crash.
“I must say a big, big thanks to those three guys on the Power Stage who put the car back on four wheels, and to those who pushed our car after the Power Stage,” Katsuta wrote in a social media post.
Katsuta definitely needed a hand after the stage, as his car wouldn’t restart. With help from a group of fans, the car was manually pushed to the Power Stage finish ramp.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t finish the rally all the way to the last time control, but you guys are my heroes,” the Japanese driver expressed.
Due to the retirement, Katsuta and Toyota missed out on valuable championship points. Hyundai was ultimately able to cut Toyota’s lead in the manufacturers’ standings by 22 points.
Check the latest WRC standings here!
The next round of the World Rally Championship will take place in the Canary Islands at the end of April.
