World Rally Championship, aka WRC, is a rallying event that keeps motorsports fans thrilled almost all year long. The championship sets off by the end of January and concludes in November.
The main championship is supported by 3 different rallies: WRC-2, WRC-3 and Junior WRC. The difference between the events is that each event follows a different set of standards or rules. For instance, the WRC-2 follows the Super 2000, N4, R5 rules. Moreover, the WRC-2 event is restricted to only the production-based cars.
As one of the leading car-manufacturing nations, Japan’s WRC ranking should be better than most other nations. After all, Japanese car manufacturers such as Subaru and Mitsubishi have produced some amazing cars that have won over 100s of rounds in the WRC tournament.
It seems like the gloomy days at World Rally Championship for Japan are soon going to end, and for all the good reasons. Takamoto Katsuta is set to change the course of the WRC record for Japan. In the last rally, Katsuta emerged victorious with a maiden WRC-2 win.
Katsuta isn’t originally a rally car racer. In fact, the 24-year-old started off at a racing kart event back at home when he was only 12 years old. At the age of 18, Katsuta won the Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ) title.
However, after advancing his career to the Japanese Formula 3 and capturing second place, Katsuta decided to take a new direction that led his career to rallying. Later, Katsuta made his debut in rally car racing with the 2016 WRC-2 Neste Rally Finland.
Although Katsuta has ties with Toyota, the manufacturer currently doesn’t build R5 cars, which are allowed at WRC-2 rallies. As a result, Takamoto Katsuta competes in a Fiesta R5.
Takamoto Katsuta isn’t an average rally racer. He has the genes of professional racers in his DNA. His father, Norihiko Katsuta, is also a rally champion who grabbed the Japanese Rally Championship title last year. Not only does he have the rally passion from his father passed down to him, but also the passion from his grandfather, who also competed in rallies.
All in all, Katsuta has a bright career ahead. In fact, he is expected to debut in a Toyota Yaris WRC in 2019 Rally Japan. If you are interested in learning more about the current happenings and standings of WRC 2018 and how to watch WRC live online, visit our dedicated blog on WRC 2018 to find out.
Osama Khan:
Osama Khan is a tech reporter and internet privacy and security enthusiast, who regularly shares his knowledge and ideas through this writings in an effort to make the internet a safe and secure place for all. Looking to connect? Send an email: mosamakhan.gt@gmail.com or follow @osamakhangt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/osamakhangt
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107596671678492111961
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mosamakhangt/
Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Osama-Khan-173