Khaberni - Toyota Gazoo Racing Team achieved a historic accomplishment by securing the top four positions in the recently held Japan Rally, where Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin were crowned in first place aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car number 33, while their teammates Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landier (car number 1) took second place, and in third place were Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen (car number 5), followed by Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston (car number 18) in fourth place, completing the team's domination of the podium during the event's main highlight organized in Toyota's homeland.
This year's Japan Rally marked the fourth victory for the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 out of five editions of the rally held in the city of Toyota, and it is expected to be the last edition using the current Rally1 regulations on Japanese roads; new regulations will be adopted starting from 2027.
On this occasion, Akio Toyoda, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota Gazoo Racing, said: "I congratulate Elfyn and Scott on their third victory in the Japan Rally. They have demonstrated impressive speed on the autumn roads we raced last year, and the same pace on the new tracks this year. They were also the fastest when we last raced here together after the Japan Rally a few years ago. Elfyn and Scott, you are the only crew to achieve this number of victories right before my eyes, and I believe this means that we together make a remarkable team. I also congratulate Sebastien and Vincent, as well as Sami and Marko. The team succeeded in controlling the podium."
He added: "In previous years, the Japan Rally represented the end of the season and an opportunity to catch our breath. But the situation is different this year; we are still mid-season, and from now on, the schedule is filled with rallies on tough gravel roads. I thank all team members for their efforts and dedication and urge them to continue with the same resolve. We still have a long road ahead filled with challenges."
This year, the Japan Rally was held on the winding roads characteristic of Aichi and Gifu prefectures inside the forests. The temperature was higher than in previous editions, with the rally's date moved from November to late May; the temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, while the narrow mountain roads posed a unique challenge for the teams, cars, and tires.
Evans and Martin once again delivered a standout performance, particularly in the famous Eisigami Tunnel stage; by starting early in the ranking, they managed to advance early. Chased by their teammates over the following days, they continued the strong performance to secure the win, marking Evans' third victory in the Japan Rally over four years and the thirteenth in his World Rally Championship career, in addition to the fiftieth podium of his career.
Ogier and Landier, the winners of the 2025 Japan Rally, secured second place this time in the overall ranking, just 12.8 seconds behind the winning crew. Pajari and Salminen also recorded their fifth podium appearance over the past six rallies and placed among the top three for the sixth time since their first podium in the Japan Rally just six months ago.
Katsuta and Johnston, succeeding on their home ground and among their fans, recovered from an early setback to finish the rally in fourth place in the overall ranking. The duo also managed to win one of the stages on the final day and achieved the second rank in the last Power Stage and Super Sunday rating.
With their victory in the last Power Stage at the Japan Rally, the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 extended its streak to fifty consecutive stage wins on asphalt roads over the last three rounds of the World Rally Championship, and Toyota expanded its lead in the manufacturers' championship with a score of 127 points.
Evans currently leads the drivers' championship by a margin of 20 points, while drivers from the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team currently occupy four of the top five spots in the overall standings; Katsuta is second, Solberg third, Pajari fourth, and Ogier fifth.
Toyota has a rich heritage in motor racing spanning over 60 years. Driven by the philosophy that the roads develop people and cars, Toyota has competed in various categories of motor racing worldwide. Its remarkable achievements, which have been realized under the toughest conditions and most challenging circumstances, alongside the valuable technical knowledge and experience gained, have laid the foundations on which the company continues to develop the best cars ever. The Toyota Gazoo Racing team continues its participation in prominent categories of global motorsport, including the World Rally Championship organized by the International Automobile Federation, along with motorsport activities for customers based on commercial production cars.
The eighth round of the World Rally Championship for 2026, the legendary Acropolis Rally in Greece, is scheduled to take place from 25-28 June on rocky mountain roads, in high summer temperatures. Renowned for its legendary reputation and tough driving conditions, the rally hence poses a significant challenge to cars, tires, and drivers alike.
Interested parties can follow the official page on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube platforms to stay updated on the competition atmosphere and learn about the results of local, regional, and international races firsthand. Car enthusiasts can also explore the Toyota Gazoo Racing cars at the Central Toyota showroom on Mecca Street.
