On Monday, February 16, the outline for the seventh round of the WRC, “FORUM8 Rally Japan 2026,” was announced to approximately 50 members of the press at Midland Hall within Midland Square in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.
At the outset, Mayor Toshihiko Ōta of Toyota City, Chairman of the Commission, presented the event concept.“Our goal is to focus on the inherent thrill and enjoyment of rally racing. We will continue to make “Experience the Rally” the concept for this event. By experiencing the appeal of the competition, the shared excitement between rally and the local community, and the spectators’ sense of participation in the rally, we aim to deepen understanding of rally, foster empathy and enjoyment, and advance the cultivation of rally culture in Japan,” he stated.
Next, Ichiro Hirosawa, Mayor of Nagoya and Vice Chairman of the Commission, announced that as a new initiative this year, the Opening Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 28th at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium grounds in Nagoya. He also added that fan events will be held in Nagoya City and in front of Toyota Station immediately before the rally.
Takane Kosaka, Mayor of Ena and also Vice Chairman of the Commission, introduced the notable courses for this year’s event. He explained that this year features newly established stages in Toyota City: the Asuke SS and the Fujioka SSS. Additionally, an SSS stage will be added, running in reverse on the course at Kuragaike Park where the shake-down takes place. “Please pay close attention not only to the Special Stages through the fresh greenery of Aichi and Gifu, but also to the uniquely Japanese liaison sections, such as the Iwamura area in Ena City,” he stated.
Following this, Pierre Kitagawa, the event host, introduced ticket sales details and entertainment content. He added that viewing the opening ceremony in Nagoya City is free (registration required). After video messages from WRC drivers, rally driver Nao Otake, active in the All Japan Rally Championship, appeared on the talk stage. He shared experiences from competing in several WRC events in Europe and training in Finland. Regarding his impression of Rally Japan, he stated, “Rally Japan is particularly known for its numerous corners and winding roads. This means an overwhelming amount of information about the road surface and corners, making pace note creation extremely tough for the co-driver. Since it’s not autumn, there aren’t many fallen leaves, but because it’s spring, moss can cover the road surface in some places. That makes it very slippery, so caution is needed. Seeing spectators along the road holding up my car number really energizes me, so if I can compete, I really hope you’ll be there holding them up, he said.
Finally, the traditional supporting TV announcers from the five Tokai region stations took the stage, delivered messages to rally fans, and concluded the presentation.
