Toyota has officially withdrawn Yuki Yamamoto from the final round of the WRC in Sardinia, scheduled for October 1–4. The decision was announced on Monday, following a string of disappointing results in recent rallies. Yamamoto was set to compete in the WRC2 category on the Mediterranean island, but the team chose to end his season early.
Yamamoto's season has been full of ups and downs. He was forced to retire on the opening day of Rally Paraguay due to technical problems. A couple of weeks later at Rally Chile, his event ended in far more dramatic fashion when he crashed his GR Yaris Rally2 on Friday's final stage. Fortunately, Yamamoto escaped injury, but his Finnish co-driver, Topi Luhtinen, suffered fractures to two vertebrae and his sternum. Luhtinen underwent successful back surgery in Chile.
Before the South American leg, Yamamoto had also retired from Rally Finland and Rally Estonia. This run of bad results forced Toyota to take decisive action. "Following a challenging run of rallies, and after discussions with Yuki, we have mutually decided not to contest Rally Italia Sardegna," the team said in a statement. The decision does not mark the end of Yamamoto's development programme. Toyota emphasised it will continue to support the Japanese driver.
"We believe that this break from an intense period of competition provides Yuki with the best opportunity to reset and focus on his continued development, while we continue to support him in his training and preparation to return stronger in the future," the statement continued. This shows Toyota still sees great potential in Yamamoto.
Nevertheless, there were bright spots this season. The highlight came at Rally Japan in May, where the 29-year-old finished third in WRC2. It was his first podium in the WRC's second tier. That result proved his speed is not in question; consistency and luck simply have not been on his side.
With Yamamoto withdrawn, Toyota's focus now shifts to next season's preparations. The team wants to ensure its young driver returns mentally and physically stronger. Meanwhile, Rally Sardinia will still be a proving ground for rivals in WRC2. This decision also serves as a reminder that rallying is not just about speed, but also risk management and recovery.
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