When Takamoto Katsuta entered Enakyo Park earlier this year in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, spectators were left speechless. But to understand Japan's deep connection to rally racing, one needs to go back two generations to Takamoto's grandfather, Teruo Katsuta.
From the factory floor to the racetracks: Teruo Katsuta's journey.
Teruo Katsuta started working at a Toyota factory at age 18, forging sheet metal, and personally participated in the production of the Toyota 7, the company's first domestically produced prototype racing car. However, his true passion wasn't racing, but rallying. He founded LUCK Auto Equipment in his mother's garage and eventually transformed it into a central hub in Asia's rally equipment supply chain. The company still maintains this position today.
Teruo's contributions were not limited to equipment supply. He played a decisive role in the organization of the Shinshiro Rally, the foundation of Rally Japan; today, many of the route changes on the WRC calendar stem from routes he discovered or remembered over the years. Thanks to his long-standing close friendship with Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, he influenced the design of the rear-wheel-drive Toyota GT86. This same relationship also paved the way for Toyota's return to the WRC in 2017.
Historic class victory at the RAC Rally.
It wouldn't be accurate to say that Teruo's eyes light up most when it comes to the Lombard RAC Rally in England; on the contrary, he explains with a measured smile: “I am the first Japanese driver to win in an FIA class. I participated in this rally seven times. There were Japanese drivers in Monte Carlo and Safari, but they were using Nissans. I wanted to go to England with a Toyota Celica. My English wasn't very good, but the cars were going in the same direction, which made things a little easier for me.”
Teruo first competed in the RAC Rally in 1975. His class victory came in 1983, driving a Toyota Sprinter he bought in England. That race was the final chapter of his world championship adventures; after that, he focused on his work. When asked what he remembers most about the route, his answer is clear: ’I love Wales. But I wasn’t good in Scotland, and Kielder… I still remember Kielder.’
Norihiko and Takamoto: A Lasting Legacy
Teruo's son, Norihiko Katsuta, entered the rally track as soon as he received his license at the age of 17 and became one of Japan's most successful local drivers. His grandson, Takamoto, achieved two WRC victories in Toyota's factory lineup, becoming the first Japanese driver to effectively reach the level that Japanese drivers aspire to.
Teruo describes his grandson as follows: “Taka is on another level. It’s the first time a Japanese driver has truly competed and won a rally at this level. I’m very proud.” Takamoto shares the same sentiment: “I know my grandfather was the first Japanese driver to win a class in the WRC at the RAC Rally, and I’m proud of that. But I’m also proud that he’s still working to grow the sport in Japan. LUCK runs a rally team as well as providing private vehicles and tuning services; this work was quite crucial in my transition from circuit racing to rallying.”
Three generations, three successful drivers, and one family that built a nation's love for motorsport. Katsuta is the name that Japanese rally sport has reached today.