Last year’s Rally Islas Canarias winner is offering valuable tips to his close friend and former team-mate
World Rally Championship leader Takamoto Katsuta is benefiting from advice from two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä as well as Ott Tanak at Rally Islas Canarias.
Katsuta announced earlier this season that 2019 world champion Tanak has been offering regular advice this year, and has praised the support received from the Estonian, who has stepped away from the WRC this year.
Now on the eve of Rally Islas Canarias, Katsuta has revealed that close friend and former team-mate Rovanpera is now in his corner offering help from afar.
Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Rovanpera dominated the WRC’s visit to the Canary Islands last year, winning 15 of the 18 stages, and is well placed to offer advice. The Finn has time to offer support The reasons behind Rovanpera’s surprise Super Formula withdrawal.
“Ott is helping me a lot and supporting me. He knows the feeling,” Katsuta told Motorsport.com.
“Also Kalle last night was sending me messages and calling me. He was very strong in this rally last year so he is trying to give me a lot of advice and tips, and it is working. For sure, it is not easy to fight for the victory in this rally, there are a lot of strong drivers and I try to focus on my own job.
“With Ott, nothing has changed and we are chatting a lot. But Kalle has been watching my onboards from last year and sending me tips. This morning he was checking my shakedown and I was sharing my onboard with Kalle. He is giving me this advice and it is a big help. I just need to do a good job as I cannot waste this support.”
Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Katsuta kicked off the rally by winning Thursday’s night’s super special stage having been second fastest in the earlier shakedown. However, the 33-year-old expects a hard fought rally, particularly against his Toyota team-mates Oliver Solberg, Elfyn Evans, reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier and Sami Pajari.
“I don’t feel any different [leading the championship]. Of course, it feels good and that is the most important, but I don’t feel any crazy pressure. It feels like I just need to focus more and more,” Katsuta added.
“It [the battle] is very intense but it is nothing new. We have Seb, Elfyn, Oliver and Sami, they are very strong. It is never easy between them but this is why we are here and this is the world championship. There will be no room for error.”
Neuville not confident he has the tools to bounce back
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Hyundai
It appears it will once again be difficult for Hyundai to challenge Toyota on the smooth asphalt roads on the Spanish island.
Last year the Korean team was on the receiving end of a Toyota 1-2-3-4, and in Thursday’s shakedown, the latter filled the top five positions.
After coming so close to a victory before a final stage mistake in Croatia two weeks ago, Thierry Neuville doesn’t feel he will be able to replicate that pace this weekend.
“So far we have had some setbacks in our career like everybody but we are able to bounce back. At the moment we are in a tough period. I do not think we have exactly what we need to bounce back and it seems like it is getting worse and worse. It is difficult trying to find those tweaks to get back in a good way,” Neuville told Motorsport.com.
“Croatia was somehow working better as I was starting to feel the car again and enjoy the driving with a reasonably ok balance. It is something we hoped for here as well. Shakedown was a big punch in our face again. We could expect it but we hope for better.”
“Throughout my career I have had enough experiences and tough times, and I have learned to handle it. Having a setback is not a problem. Losing a victory is not what hits you most. Not having the tools to fight at the right place, and not feeling comfortable while driving is much tougher.
“We have improved a bit [from last year] but we are far from good.”
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