The Japanese driver has always excelled in the Safari Rally, evidenced by two podium finishes in the last three years. However, the start of the season in the WRC has been challenging, despite demonstrating pace.
In Monte Carlo, Katsuta finished seventh, but in Sweden, a victory was within reach until he slid into a snowbank on Saturday morning. Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala has expressed hopes for Katsuta to contend for victory in Kenya, yet the driver himself is not setting high goals.
“I was feeling disappointed after Sweden but I’ve been looking forward, preparing for this rally and to do my best to get a good result for the team,” says Katsuta.
“This is my next target and I’m feeling good.”
Toyota has dominated the Safari Rally for the past three years. However, it’s clear that arch-rival Hyundai has made improvements. Additionally, moving the event to the rainy season introduces an extra layer of complexity.
“I’m of course really excited and looking forward to the Safari Rally: it’s a rally where Toyota has been really strong. But this time we will go to Kenya in a very different part of the year, so there could be more challenges in terms of the weather conditions,” Katsuta notes.
“We have tried to prepare for all the conditions we could have, but you never know how it will really be until you get there. On this kind of rally it’s always important to have a reliable car, which I think is our strongest point.”
The Safari Rally in Kenya will feature a total of 19 special stages, covering 370 kilometers. The rally kicks off on Thursday and concludes on Sunday.
