Takamoto Katsuta has been forced to retire from Rally Paraguay following another heavy crash on SS21, marking his second exit of the weekend. The Japanese driver had already retired on Friday's opening stage just a few hundred meters from the start.
The stage was red-flagged after the incident, with Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston emerging unscathed and climbing out of the car unaided. However, their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 was left lying on its side in the middle of the road, and Katsuta had also knocked down an electricity pole, bringing power lines down.
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville was the first to arrive at the scene and stopped to check on the crew. Following Neuville, no other drivers were permitted to enter the stage, which was later converted into a road section. This decision had significant implications for the overall standings.
Before the crash, Katsuta was running fifth in the Super Sunday standings. With his retirement, the fight for bonus points intensifies, and championship leader Elfyn Evans is now in line to score an extra point in the Power Stage finale.
The incident is a major blow for Katsuta, who had shown promise in earlier rounds this season. Consistency remains a critical issue, and this result will undoubtedly prompt a review from his Toyota team. Team principal Jari-Matti Latvala will be keen to address these recurring mistakes.
With Katsuta out, the battle for fifth place overall is now wide open. Oliver Solberg, currently in that position, could strengthen his standing if he maintains his pace. This adds further drama to the final day of Rally Paraguay.
Read Also
M-Sport alami masalah di Paraguay: Armstrong rusak suspensi, McErlean kendala teknis. Fourmaux naik ke P3, Pajari tetap pimpin reli.
Sami Pajari memimpin WRC Rally Paraguay dengan 26,1 detik atas Paddon, sementara Ogier memimpin Super Sunday. Tiga stage tersisa.
Sami Pajari pertahankan keunggulan di Rally Paraguay setelah SS19, Fourmaux perketat jarak dengan Evans. Sisa tiga etape terakhir.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!