Takamoto Katsuta has recently expressed his change in mindset after conquering his first victory in the World Rally Championship. The Japanese driver, who competes with Toyota Gazoo Racing, has stated that he feels lighter and more relaxed now that he has overcome the pressure of achieving this much-anticipated triumph.
Katsuta’s victory came during the Safari Rally Kenya, a historic moment that also marked the first success of a Japanese driver in the top category of rallying since Kenjiro Shinozuka in 1992. Now, Katsuta is preparing to tackle the race in Croatia, which is part of the 2026 championship.
After that triumph, the 33-year-old driver has had three weeks to absorb the significance of his victory before facing the first asphalt test of the season. Katsuta shared that he no longer feels the same pressure as before and that this relief allows him to focus better on the upcoming races: “Now after Kenya, I feel light. Sometimes, the pressure was present, but it didn’t affect me negatively.”
Currently, Katsuta occupies the third position in the WRC standings, with 55 points accumulated in the first three races of the season, which is a significant improvement over his previous best record of 30 points in the same period. Despite the good results, the driver maintains a modest focus and concentrates on achieving good results in each rally.
The upcoming event in Croatia will pose an additional challenge, as only three of the stages from the previous visit are retained. Katsuta expects the new stages to bring surprises, especially with the adversity of the varied grip conditions typical of Croatian routes, which include both narrow and rugged asphalt sections. “The grip changes are constant, and we need to prepare for all kinds of unforeseen events,” Katsuta commented on the competition that awaits him.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_c92474bafb59673a8efec0c0d8543514bc668235