Can't see that Toyota would replace Katsuta because both are from Japan but maybe Toyota is thinking about replacing Evans so they want to evaluate Pajari.
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Can't see that Toyota would replace Katsuta because both are from Japan but maybe Toyota is thinking about replacing Evans so they want to evaluate Pajari.
They could get him a Rally2 car like M-Sport is doing to boost the experience. Maybe he could get a WRC2 title, since he is doing great in Rally1 car until he bin it.
You Did! Makes Silly Season 2025 even sillier.Quote:
Originally Posted by macebig
It's just a nice opportunity to rest Katsuta while giving another chance for Pajari. Latvala has already conceded the titles so why not.
And if he wasnt Japanese, Katsuta wouldnt be in a Rally1 car in the first place...
Toyota needs to have at least three full-time drivers contesting the 2025 World Rally Championship, according to team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
When asked if he felt there was a lot of work ahead to finalise the team’s 2025 line-up, he added: “There's things we need to now consider and we need to think about.
“I can't speak about the line-up, not yet.”
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...2025/10653177/
I quess Katsuta back in the 4th car, and a fulltime 3rd driver, Rovenpära, Pajari and maybe Evans?
Or can it be some surprises, like Solberg, Sesks, or Fourmaux?
Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk
Of course everything is communicated with management at Toyota. It´s playing with fire making decisions on your own in Finland.
I think it came to a point where smth had to be done. Katsuta can´t be put aside more than this at the moment.
What we´ll might see is changes for next year and this is first signal.
Next year: Fourth car between Katsuta and some other big shot or young driver. Katsuta in WRC2 while fourth car is occupied.
Let´s wait and see.
Any comments Pantealex?
its cool that toyota tries to bring japanese guys to the world stage but taka its just not at that level.
yuki yamamoto and hiraku kogure had some run in wrc2, right? nothing exceptional.
looking at recent results in the japanese championship, these names are on rally2 cars swapping results between them: daiko arai, norihiko katsuta, osamu fukunaga. they also did a round in the asia-pacific on the front. maybe toyota could try one of these next? idk, taka its a fun character, but hes just not at that level imo
From my understanding, Latvala’s speech sounds like:
- Rovanpera in 1st car full-time
- Evans in 2nd car full-Time
- Pajari full-time between 3rd car and 4th car (depending on Ogier being there)
- Ogier part-time in 3rd car
- Katsuta part-Time in 4th car Ogier is not there + Rally 2 program
They will probably try to convince Ogier to do full-Time but I think there is no way it works.
Probably some discussions with Japanese to convince them to scale back Katsuta part-time.
Of course, he will never do it. He doesn't want to be overshadowed by his way younger and better team-mate. You know he is here only for the win. And the way Neuville is winning it right now, he is pretty much nervous, making stupid mistakes and accepting drastic measures to try to ruin it. Even Evans wants a little help from him when he was in the game for the title, but he rather was egoistic and didn't want to do that. He is not Sordo. Sadly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny0405