Katsuta sets sights on 2027 WRC title challenge

Japanese rally driver Takamoto Katsuta has set his sights on mounting a serious challenge for the World Rally Championship title in 2027 after an impressive start to his 2026 campaign was dimmed by a difficult second half of the season.

The Toyota driver opened the year strongly, claiming his maiden WRC victories in Kenya and Croatia with his success in the two rallies briefly putting him at the top of the championship standings and established him as one of the leading contenders.

He remained in contention through the opening stages of the season, but his challenge faded after the summer break after a series of punctures, crashes and costly mistakes in Estonia, Finland, Paraguay and Chile saw him lose valuable ground.

He eventually finished sixth in the championship after securing the same position in the season-ending Rally Sardinia.

Despite the disappointing finish, Katsuta remains determined to achieve the target he set in 2025 — fighting for the world title in 2027.

“The beginning of the season until the mid-season went very well. We were fighting for the championship, but after the summer we struggled,” Katsuta told US-based motorsport media outlet DirtFish.

The 33-year-old believes his biggest priority is learning how to recover quickly when things go wrong, particularly after his difficult Rally Paraguay.

“It was very good learning for the whole season. Next year we will try again,” he added.

With Toyota boasting a strong line-up, Katsuta knows competition within the team will be intense. However, he insists he will continue pushing as he looks to turn his early-season promise into a sustained title challenge.