Khaberni - Toyota Gazoo Racing Team continues to top the podiums by achieving a double victory in the first and second places in the Croatia Rally; where Takamoto Katsuta and his co-driver Aaron Johnston clinched the first place aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car bearing number 18, achieving their second consecutive victory in the 2026 World Rally Championship organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Alongside Katsuta and Johnston, Sami Pajari and his co-driver Marko Salminen also reached the podium, finishing the rally in second place aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car number 5.
With the conclusion of the fourth round of the season, Toyota continues steadily towards the title, leading by a 65-point margin in the manufacturers' category, while Takamoto Katsuta writes a new chapter in his career by topping the drivers' standings controlled by the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team for the first time ever. This achievement comes just weeks after the major victory in the Safari Rally of Kenya, making him the first Japanese driver to lead the World Rally Championship.
On this occasion, Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota Gazoo Racing Team commented: "This is the nature of rallies; sometimes you enjoy victories. The first and second places would not have been possible today without the ability of Takamoto and Sami to reach the finish line. Congratulations to Takamoto and Aaron for securing their second consecutive win. Congratulations also to Sami and Marko for reaching the podium three times in a row."
The Croatia Rally returned to the World Rally Championship calendar after a one-year absence, with a new base and a modified route that includes challenging asphalt stages. Despite the dry roads, the change in surface characteristics and varying grip levels among the route's stages made precise driving and tire management extremely important throughout the race.
It should be noted that Katsuta and Johnston remained at the forefront throughout the stages of the race, then moved towards the lead as the rally path became clear to them. With cool nerves and calculated rhythm in the final meters, the duo secured their second consecutive victory with Toyota Gazoo Racing Team.
Pajari and Salminen also maintained their position at the forefront throughout the stages, eventually securing the second place in the rally. Thus, the duo continues their excellent streak by reaching the podium for the third consecutive time, recording their best rally result to date.
Over the past years, Toyota has participated in various motor races, including Formula 1, the World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race. Toyota's participation in these events was conducted through separate teams and entities within the company until April 2015 when Toyota established the "Gazoo Racing" division, aiming to unify all of its motorsport activities under one name. Born from Toyota's conviction and slogan "We gain experience on the roads; to build better cars," Gazoo Racing emphasizes race sports as a fundamental pillar of the company’s commitment to developing the best cars. By leveraging years of experience gained under the challenging conditions of various racing sports, Gazoo Racing aims to develop cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions that provide everyone with the experience of freedom, adventure, and driving pleasure.
The fifth round of the 2026 World Rally Championship is scheduled to take place in the Canary Islands Rally from April 23 to 26. This rally features mountainous asphalt stages that wind through Gran Canaria, with rough, highly adhesive surfaces partly composed of volcanic lava, requiring high skills and experience in tire performance and car control.
Interested individuals can follow the official page on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube; to keep up with the competition atmosphere and get the latest results of local, regional, and international races as soon as they happen. Car enthusiasts can also explore the range of Toyota Gazoo Racing cars at Central Toyota showroom on Mecca Street.
