TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Secures One-Two Finish at Croatia Rally

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) maintained their run of podium finishes with a one-two victory at Croatia Rally. Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston claimed first place in the No. 18 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1, as well as their second consecutive 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) win. They were joined on the podium by Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen, who finished second in the No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1.

Following the season’s fourth round, Toyota leads the manufacturers’ championship by 65 points, while Takamoto Katsuta moves into the lead of the TGR-WRT-dominated drivers’ standings for the first time in his career. The result comes just weeks after his maiden win at Safari Rally Kenya and makes him the first Japanese driver to head the championship.

Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: “This is rallying too... there are also times when you win like this. This one-two finish was possible because both Takamoto and Sami reached the finish. Congratulations to Takamoto and Aaron for taking their second consecutive win! And congratulations also to Sami and Marko for achieving three podiums in a row!”

Croatia Rally returned to the WRC calendar after a one-year absence with a new base and a revised route of challenging asphalt stages. Despite dry conditions, changing surface characteristics and varying grip levels across the stages placed a premium on precision driving and tyre management throughout the event.

Katsuta and Johnston remained close to the front across the stages before moving into the lead as the rally unfolded. Managing the closing stages with control, the duo secured victory to complete a back-to-back winning run with TGR-WRT.

Pajari and Salminen also stayed among the front-runners throughout, securing second place after holding podium positions across the stages. The result marks their third consecutive podium finish and their best rally result to date.

Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 ‎Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, ‎to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing ‎Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to ‎making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone. 

Round five of the 2026 FIA WRC is Rally Islas Canarias (April 23-26), featuring mountainous asphalt stages across the island of Gran Canaria. The route’s abrasive, high-grip surfaces, formed in part by volcanic lava, place unique demands on tyre performance and vehicle control.

Race Notes:

•    No. 18 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston)
o    Position: 1st
o    Time: 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 15.8 seconds

•    No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen)
o    Position: 2nd
o    Time: 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 36.5 seconds (+20.7 seconds)