Toyota dominates the top three on the second day of WRC Rally Japan, Takamoto Katsuta catches up to 9th place – Car Watch

Day 2 of the final round of the WRC Rally Japan was held on November 17th. Day 2 began with SS2 Isegami’s Tunnel, a mountain stage, and the real rally began.

In this SS2, car No. 18 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) crashed. Although he crossed the finish line using a hybrid motor, he fell far behind.

At the end of SS2, the No. 33 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) took the lead. Elfyn Evans maintained this lead and finished Day 2 in first place.

Car No. 17 Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Landet (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) also took 2nd place in this SS2, and the Toyotas reversed their slow start in the Super SS on the mountain stage. Last year’s winner, car No. 11 Thierry Neuville/Martin Wiedega (Hyunde i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid), is in 3rd place.

Thierry Neuville was in second place overall in SS3, but retired for the day in SS6 in the afternoon. After SS6, car No. 69 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Haruttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) moved up to 3rd place. Toyota cars dominated the top positions.

Takamoto Katsuta, who was late in SS2, had the top times in SS5, SS6, and SS7 after SS4, which was canceled due to maintenance on his machine, and was 2nd in SS8. Although he fell far behind at one point, he made his way back up to 9th place and finished the second day.