Toyota once again has a great situation in its home race in the World Rally Japan.
Juha Kankkunen’s Toyota drives in Japan. Stock photo. Vesa Pöppönen/AOP
Toyota holds a triple lead in the asphalt rally after the first day of proper driving: Sebastien Ogier is number one before his teammates Takamoto Katsuta and Elfyn Evans. The top three can fit in just ten seconds.
Toyota’s day only got darker Kalle Rovanperän mistake of the morning. Rovanperä damaged his car and fell more than five minutes away from the lead.
Rovanperä’s championship dreams were crushed by the time loss. He will fight for the championship against his teammates Ogier and Evans.
Working as a Toyota team boss in Japan Juha Kankkunen reacts calmly to Rovanperä’s situation.
– This can happen. But Kalle can try to get another ten points on Sunday, Kankkunen acknowledged coolly.
– Let’s just say that Seb and Elfyn now have a small advantage on their side. They are in good positions and they have done a good job, Laukaa’s rally legend added.
Evans has a 13-point lead over Ogier and Rovanperä in the World Series. The Welshman is the only one of the trio who has not won a championship in his career, but this year his championship train has steadily moved forward.
The reason for Evans’ World Championship lead is that he has not made a single major mistake this season.
– If you look at the whole year, he has been in the points in every rally. He’s the guy you have to hit to get to the top. He has earned his first place, Kankkunen said.
Now Evans’s biggest threat is Ogier, who has taken Kankkune’s advice and aims to defeat Evans in Japan. A win could bring him right up to his teammate’s position before the final race.
– Seb has not surprised here. He knows what he has to do. It seems that the longer the season goes on, the better he gets, Kankkunen praised the French champion.
Between the champion candidates, Japan’s own son Takamoto Katsuta, who is struggling for the first competition victory of his career, is confusing. Katsuta has just as free hands to drive from the number one position as his teammates.
– Taka has always been very fast in his home race. He’s just been smiling the whole time. So let him drive and enjoy this, Kankkunen said.