On Sunday 5 November 2023, the last day of the JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023, formally the Tokyo Motor Show, a stage event and demonstration run were held to promote the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Forum 8 Rally Japan 2023.
On this day, the last day of a three-day weekend in November, four rally drivers, Takamoto Katsuta (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT), Adrien Fourmaux (M-SPORT FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM), Toshihiro Arai (SUBARU TEAM ARAI) and Norihiko Katsuta (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRJ) took to the stage at the Motor Sports Zone in Hall 7, East Exhibition Hall, Tokyo Big Sight.
The talk show was also joined by Akio Toyoda, Chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), which organised the JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023, and Toshihiko Ota, Chairman of the Rally Japan 2023 Commission. Fourmaux, who is returning to Rally 1 for his first visit to Japan, spoke about how much he was looking forward to coming back to Japan, how he had dined at Asakusa the day before and how he plans to stay in Japan until Rally Japan. Takamoto also introduced Fourmaux as “a very fast and crazy driver”.
Regarding the Japanese courses, Fourmaux said, “I’ve heard that there are many narrow and twisty roads”. Meanwhile, it was also mentioned that scenes from Rally Japan have been selected as two of the three best photos of the 2022 WRC season, and the Japanese competitors also talked about the beauty and appeal of the uniquely Japanese courses. Chairman Ota also spoke about the Isegami Tunnel SS, which was one of the symbolic scenes of last year’s Rally Japan, and how the paving of the tunnel has improved safety. For his part, Fourmaux commented that he was looking forward to the race.
A time-lapse video showed the paving of the Toyota Stadium SSS, which will be used in Rally Japan 2023, and also showed the jumps and the multi-level crossing. This footage was greeted with applause from the audience. It was also announced that a special demo run would be held at Toyota Stadium with a variety of old and new rally cars, as well as a kart race with top TOYOTA GAZOO Racing drivers.
Chairman Toyoda also spoke of the significance of Rally Japan, saying: “I think that being able to witness the world’s number one competition, seeing Japanese scenery broadcast to the whole world, and rally competitors engaging in their sport will move a lot of people. I think that is the significance of Rally Japan, to have a world-class competition in Japan.”
At the end of the talk show, the four drivers expressed their enthusiasm for the forthcoming Rally Japan 2023, saying “We will do our best, so please come and support us.
After the stage event, a demo run was held outdoors. First up was a Subaru WRX STI, but the driver of the car, Toshihiro Arai, was in the passenger seat, with a surprise appearance by “Morizo” (Chairman, Toyoda) at the wheel. This was the first time that anyone other than Arai had driven this WRX in a demo run.
Norihiko Katsuta then drove Morizo’s practice car, a Toyota GR Yaris, followed by Toshihiro Arai, this time in a Subaru WRX STI. Morizo then took the steering wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the same car that will be driven in Rally Japan two weeks later, with Takamoto Katsuta in the passenger seat. After a demonstration run, the car was stopped in front of the spectators and mechanics appeared on the course with jacks and tyres, and the GR Yaris Rally1 went straight out for a tyre change. The driver was then switched to Takamoto, who showed off his powerful driving skills. The day’s Rally Japan PR event ended with a demo run competition between the three rally cars that had been brought in for the demo run. The many spectators who surrounded the demo run venue gave a huge round of applause for the event.
