katsuta

Takamoto Katsuta has singled out his Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Kalle Rovanpera for his turnaround in fortunes at Secto Rally Finland.  

In the words of the chart topping hit song by Eminem - albeit rearranged slightly - ‘Would the real Takamoto Katsuta please stand up?’

The Team Principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing believes Kalle Rovanpera’s success on Rally de Portugal could prove a watershed moment in this season’s World Rally Championship title fight.

Twelve months on from missing out on a podium finish at Rally de Portugal, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Takamoto Katsuta is confident of putting the record straight this weekend.

Reigning World Rally champion Kalle Rovanpera powered his way to a fastest time on the Rally Sweden shakedown stage ahead of the action beginning later this evening with a spectator special in the host city of Umea.

Takamoto Katsuta insists that he remains unfazed by the responsibility that comes with being a nominated points-scoring driver for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team on this week’s Rally Sweden.

Japanese star Takamoto Katsuta will share a drive with multiple World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier following his promotion to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala has described Takamoto Katsuta’s third place finish on Rally Japan as an “important achievement” for him and the team’s Challenge Programme.

Kalle Rovanpera comprehensively won Rally Estonia alongside Jonne Halttunen and will now carry a sizeable 83 point advantage heading into the second half of the World Rally Championship season.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala has heaped praised on his four drivers for “holding their nerve” on the penultimate day of an incident-filled Safari Rally Kenya.

An off colour Kalle Rovanpera successfully consolidated his position at the top of the Safari Rally Kenya timesheets across Saturday’s six special stages to lead Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans by 40.3 seconds.

Kalle Rovanpera managed to steer clear of trouble on the first full day of a quite remarkable Safari Rally Kenya to lead his Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans by 22.4 seconds.

Hyundai's Ott Tanak and Martin Järveoja stormed to victory on Rally Italia Sardegna – round five of the FIA World Rally Championship – to end a winless streak that stretched all the way back to the start of last year.

Ott Tanak remains on course to clinch his first World Rally Championship victory in more than a year after ending the penultimate day of Rally Italia Sardegna holding a commanding 46 second lead.

Kalle Rovanpera cemented his position at the head of the World Rally Championship drivers’ standings – and his tag as one of the favourites to lift the title – with a comprehensive Rally de Portugal victory.

World Rally Championship leaders Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen set the benchmark on today’s Rally Sweden shakedown stage.