Driver Profile
From circuit racing to rallying
Takamoto Katsuta began his career in Japanese circuit racing, winning the Formula Challenge Japan title and finishing runner-up in the Japanese F3 championship. He joined Toyota’s WRC Challenge Program in 2015, shifting his training focus to rallying. While circuit racing involves repeatedly covering the same track, rallying requires reconnaissance and pacenotes to tackle constantly changing roads. His transition therefore involved changes to both his driving style and his approach to preparation.
He won the WRC2 category at Rally Sweden in 2018, then gradually earned opportunities to drive Toyota’s top-level rally car. Second overall at the 2021 Safari Rally Kenya marked his first overall WRC podium and a significant step forward on his path from a training programme to the top class.
From building podium experience to a first win in 2026
Over several seasons between 2022 and 2025, Katsuta continued to build his tally of top-class podiums and gain full-season experience. Events on different surfaces, including Kenya, Japan, Sweden and Finland, all produced notable results in his development; those experiences cannot be reduced to an ability on just one type of surface.
At the 2026 Kenya round, Katsuta and Aaron Johnston took their first overall WRC victory. They continued after losing time to a puncture, then built and defended a lead; Katsuta also won that year’s Croatia round. The victories in Kenya and Croatia came on gravel and tarmac respectively, demonstrating how his competitiveness has gradually broadened since his switch to rallying.
The 2026 crew and round-specific co-driver changes
Katsuta drives the No. 18 GR Yaris Rally1 as part of Toyota’s full-season line-up. He has partnered with Johnston since the 2021 Finland round, and their long-standing collaboration provides an important foundation for the crew. A co-driver must relay road information clearly and promptly to the driver on high-speed sections, and the pair’s pacenote practices directly affect their driving rhythm.
Johnston missed the 2026 Chile round through injury, with James Fulton stepping in temporarily; the regular partnership resumed for the Sardinia round. The appearance of different co-drivers in the Chile entry information and regular crew photographs therefore does not mean the partnership has changed for the entire season. Crew identities should be understood in the context of the relevant round.
What to watch
Editor’s analysis: Katsuta’s development is best assessed through his adjustments after mistakes and his execution once in the lead. Compare his pace across earlier and later loops of stages in the same rally, as well as how he completes the remaining sections after tyre damage. Alongside his winning pace, watch whether the crew can bring the car home over rough roads. This reveals more about his progress than podium counts alone.
How results are recorded
Rally1 overall results, WRC2 category results, fastest stage times and season titles are recorded separately. This page is a snapshot; for the latest driver and FIA manufacturer points totals, see this site’s standings.
Last checked: 1 October 2026 · Historical statistics and current points are maintained separately