Toyota Gazoo Racing’s World Rally Team is bringing its championship momentum home as it prepares for Rally Japan from 6 to 9 November.

Fresh from clinching its fifth straight manufacturers’ title at the Central European Rally, the team now turns its focus to a tight drivers’ championship race that will be decided over the last two rounds in Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Elfyn Evans leads the standings by 13 points, just ahead of teammates Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä, who are tied after Rovanperä’s recent victory on the asphalt roads of Central Europe.

Evans is chasing his first drivers’ crown and will try to extend his dominance at Rally Japan, where he has won the last two years.

Ogier and Rovanperä have also shared the podium in those victories, which underlines Toyota’s strength on home soil. Local favorite Takamoto Katsuta aims to add another highlight to his record after finishing third in Japan in 2022 and fourth in Central Europe last month.

Joining the lineup is Sami Pajari, stepping up to Rally1 machinery a year after winning the WRC2 title in Japan.

The event will feature a strong showing of eight GR Yaris Rally2 cars, including entries from newly crowned WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg and several Japanese rally stars such as Heikki Kovalainen and Norihiko Katsuta.

Since returning to the World Rally Championship calendar in 2022, Rally Japan has been known for its twisting, narrow roads through Aichi and Gifu prefectures, with Toyota Stadium once again serving as the service park.

The route includes a mix of new and returning stages, offering a challenging mix of mountain passes, tunnels, and fast sections that demand precision and patience.

Deputy Team Principal Juha Kankkunen said the team is eager to celebrate its title win with Japanese fans while staying focused on the close championship fight. “Elfyn has been strong here, but Seb and Kalle will be pushing hard. It’s anyone’s rally,” he said.

For Katsuta, it’s more than just another race. “It’s my home rally, and I’ll give everything to achieve the best result for myself, the team, and the fans,” he shared.

As Toyota’s rally heroes return to their home roads, all eyes will be on whether the team can cap off its dominant season with another victory — this time in front of the crowd that started it all.