Toyota’s Pre-Rally Japan Testing

Hello rally fans :)!

As the final round of the 2024 Championship, Rally Japan slowly approaches Toyota is gearing up with intense preparation. But interestingly, the testing ahead of this Japanese rally was held not in Japan, but in Croatia. For three days, the Toyota Gazoo Racing team put the Toyota Yaris Rally2 to the test on Croatian roads, with three impressive drivers behind the wheel: Sami Pajari, Yuki Yamamoto, and Hikaru Kogure.

Yamamoto and Kogure represent the next generation of rally talent in Toyota’s Challenge Program, which is designed to develop promising young drivers with the ultimate goal of competing at WRC’s highest levels. Yamamoto, and Kogure are training intensely, so someday, one of them might even replace Takamoto Katsuta as the main representative for Toyota in the WRC.

You might wonder, why is the test held in Croatia when Rally Japan is on the other side of the world?? This is due to WRC’s rule limiting testing outside of Europe (and of course teams want to save money).

As Rally Japan approaches, it’s clear that Toyota has put in the work to close out the season with a strong performance.

I’ll put the links to videos I received from my friend from the testing so be sure to check it out and leave your thoughts about it :).

Bring it on Rally Japan😎🇯🇵

https://youtube.com/shorts/X9SKUd9pRjY?si=m2FjbVczFw1b3ubj

https://youtube.com/shorts/iJda_DdT_A0?si=M28lgimnE_9AM6o7