The seventh round of the 2026 WRC season, Forum8 Rally Japan, kicked off in Toyota City from May 28-31. Toyota Gazoo Racing, having secured five victories in the first six races of the season, currently holds a 93-point lead over its rivals in the manufacturers' championship.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans arrives in Japan 12 points ahead of his closest rival and teammate Takamoto Katsuta. Evans also won Rally Japan in 2023 and 2024. Katsuta, meanwhile, will be greeted with great fan interest at his home rally after his first two WRC victories of the season in Kenya and Croatia.
Toyota's competitors
Hyundai is competing with Thierry Neuville, Adrien Fourmaux, and Hayden Paddon, while M-Sport Ford is also on the field with their Ford Puma Rally1 cars. A total of 32 teams are starting in Japan; 10 in Rally1 and 12 in Rally2.
Oliver Solberg, currently third in the championship standings, is making his first appearance in Japan this season with a Rally1 car. Having started 2026 with a victory in Monaco, this is a crucial weekend for Solberg in his bid to catch Evans.
Runway specifications
The rally, which will be run over 20 special stages and 302.82 km of competitive distance on the mountainous asphalt roads of Aichi and Gifu prefectures, has been moved from November to May. The high temperatures and the risk of an early rainy season in May make this final asphalt leg of the season more unpredictable.