Although Katsuta has since left Jyväskylä behind and moved to Monaco, he spent nearly a decade in Central Finland before that.
Jyväskylä is something of a rally mecca in Finland, making it a natural choice for a Japanese driver aiming for the top of the rally world to live there during the early stages of his career.
Living in Finland also had other advantages for Katsuta. He had the opportunity to test and drive extensively on snow. This experience paid off in this year’s Rally Sweden, where Katsuta fought for victory until the very end. Ultimately, he finished second on Sweden’s snowy roads, right behind his Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans.
The past year has been an emotional rollercoaster for Katsuta. At the end of last season, he was fighting for his job at Rally Japan, and now, in only the second round of the season, he delivered what may have been the best rally of his career.
“That this kind of result and this kind of very consistent, stable weekend is giving me even more confidence. I will just continue to improve and try to be a better driver in the future,” Katsuta told RallyJournal.com.
Katsuta was clear in saying that he would not be where he is today if he had not lived in Finland. In particular, he would not be as skilled at driving on snow without his experiences there.
“That’s exactly right. This is what it’s all about. I lived in Finland, and this is why I feel very comfortable and familiar on the snow. There is no other reason. Finland made me this strong in Sweden and on snow,” Katsuta emphasised.
