The World Rally Championship continues with the iconic Kenya leg from March 28-31. Katsuta has previously shown excellent performance on the Safari Rally’s demanding stages. The 31-year-old Katsuta has driven in Kenya and achieved podium finishes twice.
The race has also been a great success for Toyota since 2021, securing a double victory that year and even a quadruple victory in the last two instances.
The 2024 season has started somewhat haltingly for Katsuta, even though his pace has been competitive. In Monte Carlo in January, Katsuta finished seventh, and in Sweden in February, the Japanese driver slid off into the snow while battling for victory.
“I hope we could get the victory for Taka, for sure,” Latvala told WRC.com. “I think, from what I see in Kenya now, the patience is really important – especially with the difficult weather,” Latvala said on the WRC’s website.
“If the weather gets difficult, we need to remember that being the fastest is not always the way in Kenya. Being the smartest is, for me, the key, and hopefully we could get that with Taka. Anyway, I would really like now to see Toyota winning,” Latvala continued.
In the years 2021-23, the race in the Naivasha region was held around midsummer. Now, the competition has moved back to its traditional spot in March. Currently, the six-day weather forecast does not predict heavy rains for the area, but things can change quickly.
“It’s going to be a different challenge. We are in the rainy season and there is a risk that it will rain. If it rains then it will be really slippery, and when you [aren’t allowed] to cut the tyres then it can be quite a challenge for the drivers,” Latvala said.
“Okay, it might be that it’s not so bad, but I would say that the risk is higher for the difficult conditions.”
This year, cars can be equipped with so-called snorkels to better prevent water and dust from entering the engine.
“One special thing now is that I think we will have the snorkels in Kenya because of the risk that there is going to be more water on the road. All the manufacturers can have this, so that I think can look quite cool.” Latvala praises.
Toyota and Hyundai are tied in the manufacturers’ championship after two WRC rallies, although Hyundai has won both of the season’s first two contests.
