Katsuta’s season has been challenging, and he had to sit out Rally Chile. The break did the Japanese driver good, and he came back stronger than ever.
Katsuta had a solid rally in Central Europe, finishing an impressive fourth overall. His strong weekend was capped off on Sunday when he was the fastest driver throughout Super Sunday.
“It’s still like I could do something better for the future. So I’m still looking at what I can do to improve. But that was kind of a good reset to think a lot. I was already thinking a lot, but then I had more time to reflect,” Katsuta said.
“I was able to see who is really supporting me and who I really need to listen to. It was a nice moment to realise what kind of people I have around me. And I really appreciate all of them.their support,” Katsuta added.
Katsuta is aware that tough times may lie ahead, but they can always be overcome.
“Life is tough, so there could still be some tough moments ahead. But the last couple of months have been some of the toughest of my life,” Katsuta admitted.
Throughout his career, Katsuta has shown he has speed. What has been lacking is consistency, but in Central Europe, he demonstrated that too. Katsuta kept things under control from start to finish. On Sunday, he also showed that he can handle pressure, winning Super Sunday and bringing Toyota crucial points in the manufacturers’ standings. The points Katsuta earned played a key role in keeping the manufacturers’ championship battle alive.
“It was great to finish the weekend like this. On Sunday, I tried my best, and the team’s goal was to get as many points as possible. So, I did exactly what they wanted. I was waiting for a situation where I could push the whole weekend, and finally, I got that chance on Sunday morning. It was nice to enjoy driving for Toyota,” Katsuta said excitedly.
Katsuta has made several mistakes this season, but in this rally, he drove almost flawlessly and did exactly the job Toyota expected. This was also mentally important for him.
“Finishing the rally after my comeback was the most important thing. More important than, let’s say, winning Super Sunday and the Power Stage, because it was such a difficult time for me,” Katsuta explained.
“All the stories, rumours, and everything kind of messed with my head, and it was a difficult moment in my career and life. So, it was nice to come back like this and finish under such massive pressure. Now I can breathe a little. Of course, it’s nice to finish like this on Super Sunday and get the points. I feel like I finally did the job the team wanted from me,” Katsuta concluded.
