• WRC Promoter extends agreement with FORUM8 Rally Japan.
• Popular event to remain on the WRC calendar until at least 2028*.
• New deal secures Toyota City’s future as the rally hub.
27 October 2024
Toyota City mayor Toshihiko Ota and WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona
Siebel today (Sunday, 27 October) confirmed the extension of the agreement
that will keep FORUM8 Rally Japan on the WRC Calendar and Toyota City as
the hub of the event for three additional years.
The FIA World Rally Championship has been based in Toyota City since
returning to Japan in 2022, utilising technical asphalt stages in the
mountainous Aichi and Gifu prefectures surrounding Toyota City.
Fuelled by the popularity of Aichi-born WRC star Takamoto Katsuta, over
160,000 spectators attended the event and its official fan zones in 2023, while
an estimated 370,000 additional fans lined the road sections to catch their FIA
World Rally Championship heroes.
The rally has grown in stature across its previous two editions as evidenced by
strong demand for tickets for this November’s event. The rally has a major
global appeal and rates among the most-watched rallies on the calendar,
bringing substantial exposure to Toyota City.
Once again, in addition to the mountain stages in 2024, the WRC will come
close to the fans with three spectacular super special stages planned for inside
the 45,000-seat City of Toyota Stadium. The stadium is once again in the heart
of the service park, whilst spectators can get close to the action during the
super special at Okazaki Central Park. Further stages are held in the
neighbouring cities of Ena, Nakatsugawa, Shinshiro and Shitara.
Every stage of this year’s FORUM8 Rally Japan can be seen live on JSports, with
further stages and highlights set for broadcast on NHK, TV Asahi and Abema
TV.
“I am thrilled that the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has decided to
continue to hold a Japan round for the 2026-2028 seasons,” expressed Mayor
Ota.
“Rally Japan has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and overseas for its
backdrop of iconic Japanese scenery that includes beautiful mountains, lakes
and Shinto shrine gates.
“We hope to use this acclaim to foster a strong rally culture and expand the
fan base at home and abroad. We look forward to delivering excitement and
thrills to fans through intense competition between the world’s top drivers.”
“Toyota City has been incredibly welcoming to the WRC since we returned to
Japan. The centralised service park results in an amazing fan experience in the
heart of the city,” enthused WRC Managing Director Jona Siebel upon
announcement of the agreement.
He continued: “We have an excellent partner in Toyota City that shares our
values in sustainability and clearly sees the benefit that we bring to the city by
extending our agreement there.”
“For sure it is big news for me, Japan and the Toyota team,” expressed local
hero Katsuta. “It is very important to do the home rally for me, but of course
for Toyota and all the Japanese fans.
“It is a very special thing – the important thing is how long you continue these
events – if you stop once the popularity goes down again.
“I believe it was a massive job from the organisers to make the extension so
huge respect and a big thanks to them for doing it. The next three years will be
even more important for my career and life and for Japanese rally and
motorsports. I try to do my best for sure and to get more fans.”
The announcement came on the occasion of the Hyundai N x TOYOTA GAZOO
Racing Festival at Everland Speedway, Yong-in, South Korea where WRC
Promoter’s Senior Sporting Director Peter Thul was present to congratulate
Mayor Ota and Takamoto Katsuta on the continuation of the agreement.
*Subject to World Motor Sport Council approval
