Toyota announces 2024 WRC lineup, Takamoto Katsuta will participate in works full race with Elfyn Evans – RALLYPLUS.NET Rally Plus

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced the driver lineup for the 2024 WRC on November 20th. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT will be fully participated by Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin and Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston. Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Haruttunen will be participating in the race in a spot, sharing the third Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid with Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Lande.

Toyota has won three consecutive WRC championships in 2023, in the Manufacturers’ Championship, Drivers’ Championship, and Co-Drivers’ Championship, and will aim to defend its title in 2024 as well. Rovanpera, who became the youngest driver in history to win back-to-back drivers’ titles in 2023, has signed a multi-year contract with the team. In 2024, he will set up a program of spot participation as a recharging period, and is aiming to compete full-time in the championship again.

(Below is an excerpt from the team release related to WRC)

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announces 2024 WRC activity structure

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) announced on November 20th its participation structure for the 2024 World Championship season.

In the FIA ​​World Rally Championship (WRC), together with drivers and co-drivers who have built relationships of mutual trust over the years, we will continue to challenge the season in 2024 with the aim of achieving the triple crown for manufacturer, driver, and co-driver.

In the hypercar category of the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship (hereinafter referred to as WEC), in preparation for the 2024 season when even more rival teams will participate, we have welcomed Nick de Vries as the driver of car No. 7, and Kamui Kobayashi. Under the leadership of the team, we aim to win double titles for the sixth consecutive season.

TGR will continue to work on “creating ever-better cars using motorsports as a starting point” and “activities that make motorsports more attractive and sustainable.”

2023 season main achievements/results
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
Won triple title for 3 consecutive seasons
Manufacturers Champion
Drivers Champion (Kalle Rovanpera)
Co-drivers champion (Jonne Haruttunen)

2024 participation structure
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), together with the drivers and co-drivers who competed together this season, will continue to challenge the season in 2024 with the aim of achieving the triple crown for manufacturer, driver, and co-driver. Masu.

Kalle Rovanpera, who became the youngest consecutive champion at the age of 23 this season, has signed a multi-year contract with TGR-WRT. In 2024, Rovanpera will limit the number of WRC entries and aim to gain further experience and improve his skills by participating in different motor sports such as drifting. Sébastien Ogier, who ended his full-time participation in 2021, will share the GR YARIS Rally HYBRID seat with Kalle in 2024. Elfyn Evans has renewed his contract with TGR-WRT for two years. Evans has won 2nd place three times in the four years he has competed as a TGR-WRT driver, and will continue to challenge with a clear goal of winning his first drivers’ championship in 2024. Katsuta, who worked hard in the challenge program and joined the regular team lineup in 2023, contributed to the team’s victory in the manufacturer’s title, including a 3rd place finish at Rally Finland. From 2024, he will participate in all races as a regular driver.

Team name TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT（World Rally Team）
team owner Akio Toyota
team representative Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland)
vehicle GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID (Total length 4,207mm; Overall width 1,875mm)
engine GI4B
tire Made by Pirelli

Driver/co-driver
driver Elfyn Evans (UK)
co-driver Scott Martin (UK)
driver Sébastien Ogier (France)
co-driver Vincent Landais (France)
driver Kalle Rovanperä (Finland)
co-driver Jonne Halttunen (Finland)
driver Takamoto Katsuta (Japan)
co-driver Aaron Johnston (Ireland)

WRC team representative/driver comments
Jari-Matti Latvala
I am very happy that we were able to maintain a driver group that can win next season and beyond. It’s great that our strong drivers feel comfortable with our car and want to continue competing with us. There will be a few changes to Kalle’s program next year, but the important thing is that Kalle will remain a Toyota driver and will continue to share his passion for rallying with us. Although he is young, he has already been seriously involved in rallying for a long time. In order to compete for a full season together again in the future, he has decided that it would be best for him to participate only partially next year. With Cebu also deciding to continue, our team now has two drivers who have won multiple world championships, and we have a strong lineup to defend our manufacturer title. Elfin is also a driver who can compete for the championship, and I’m sure he will give his all in every rally. Taka has proven this year that he has what it takes to finish on the podium at Rally Finland, the fastest rally. I think he will be fighting for podiums in almost all rallies next year.

Kalle Rovanpera
I am delighted to have signed a multi-year contract with TGR-WRT and to continue working with the team. Next year I have decided to narrow down the number of rallies I will participate in. I have been rallying for 15 years now, and 2022 and 2023 have been particularly great years for me, but at the same time, life has been extremely demanding both mentally and physically. Therefore, I would like to take next year as a period of recharging my mind and body, and return to take on the championship with a full attack. I like all kinds of motorsports, so next year I’m looking forward to participating in not only rallies, but also drifting and other cool events.

Elfyn Evans
I am looking forward to my fifth season with the TGR team. I’ve had great success with my team over the past four years and I’m excited to continue this story. When I joined the team in 2020, I was able to fit in right away and felt very comfortable. Everyone on the team has supported me so that I can drive the GR YARIS Rally1 comfortably, and we have continued to evolve the car together this year, and I hope to make it even better in 2024. I look forward to the future as there is still much we can accomplish together. As always, the goal is to win, both in each rally and in the championship.

Sebastian Ogier
I am very happy to be a part of TGR again next year. 2023 was a good season for me, and it was also a great year for the team as we won three titles. I look forward to working together in the same environment next year to continue our success story. I felt really comfortable with the entire team and there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to continue wearing TGR suits. Also, I like the balance of participating in races without having to participate full-time, so next season will be similar. This style has worked well and been successful for me and my team, so I hope to continue the same way next year.

Takamoto Katsuta
We are excited to start the new season with TGR-WRT. I learned a lot this year. There were rallies that went well for me, and there were rallies that didn’t go well for me, but I think they all helped me in the future and made me stronger. Next year will be an important year for me to prove my strength. I will do my best to make it the best year of my career so far. I’m really grateful to my team and everyone who supported me. Since joining the TGR WRC Challenge program in 2015, I have had the wonderful opportunity to gain experience step by step. Next year will be the next step and we will fight for even better results, podiums and wins.