Takamoto Katsuta Under Pressure at Rally Monte Carlo 2026

WRC, Sportrik Media - Takamoto Katsuta of Toyota Gazoo Racing completed the Rally Monte Carlo 2026 in seventh position, as the opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship season was defined by a sequence of technical setbacks that heavily influenced his overall rally execution.

Monte Carlo once again proved to be a high-risk event for Katsuta, particularly in tyre management and adapting to the rapidly changing asphalt conditions of the French Alps. Two punctures on Friday morning immediately compromised his initial strategy, before a power steering failure during the afternoon loop resulted in significant time losses on successive mountain stages.

These difficulties stood in stark contrast to the performance of team-mate Oliver Solberg, who delivered a controlled and consistent drive to secure victory. The final gap of more than 13 minutes underlined the decisive role of technical reliability and precise setup in Rally1 competition, especially at mixed-surface events such as Monte Carlo.

Katsuta’s rally was further complicated on the final day when he made contact with a bridge on Sunday, adding another layer of risk management to an already compromised weekend. Despite the incident, he reached the finish and salvaged valuable championship points, limiting the immediate damage to his position in the standings.

“I need to reset after this rally and look more deeply at what went wrong. I was struggling a lot throughout the event, and understanding that will be very important for the future,” Katsuta said.

Attention now turns to Rally Sweden, an event that traditionally suits Katsuta’s driving style on snow. Last season, he finished second after a close fight with Elfyn Evans, while in the previous edition he remained in contention for victory until a minor error halted his challenge.

“For Sweden, I don’t need to think about this rally. I just need to forget it and enjoy the snow stages. I feel confident there, and having strong team-mates allows me to compare data and improve,” Katsuta added.

In summary, Katsuta’s Monte Carlo highlighted the importance of consistency, risk control, and mechanical robustness at the start of the season. Rally Sweden will be a critical indicator of whether he can convert early pressure into renewed momentum as the championship progresses.