The Forum8 Rally Japan has a new place on the calendar in 2026, and with it a fresh set of challenges, as the World Rally Championship's seventh round shifts from its traditional November date to a late-spring slot running from 28-31 May.
The reshuffle is more than a cosmetic change. By dropping Rally Japan into the middle of the season, organisers break up what would otherwise be a long run of gravel events — easing the road-sweeping penalty that disadvantages the championship leaders, who run first on the road and clear loose stones for those behind. On Japan's slippery asphalt, that strategic wrinkle could prove pivotal.
The conditions themselves are expected to differ from the rally's autumnal character. The move to late May should bring warmer temperatures, though rain — a familiar complication in previous editions — remains a threat. Gone, at least, should be the carpet of fallen leaves that has historically coated the narrow, tree-lined stages and stripped away grip on corner exits. What remains is a test of millimetres: tight, twisting roads hemmed in by barriers, drop-offs and dense forest, where the smallest error carries an outsized price.
For Toyota, this is home soil, and the Japanese manufacturer arrives in strong form. Elfyn Evans leads the drivers' championship by 12 points from team-mate and local favourite Takamoto Katsuta, setting up an intriguing intra-team battle on the marque's own roads.
"We're looking forward to returning to Rally Japan in what has been a very strong season so far for our team," team principal Jari-Matti Latvala said.
Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier echoed the sentiment. "Going to Rally Japan is a highlight in our season, and it's been great to see the support and the interest in rallying there growing every year," he said.
For Katsuta, the event carries extra significance as he chases a maiden victory in front of his home crowd. "Rally Japan is of course a very important rally for myself and for our team," he said.
With the championship finely poised and the stages as unforgiving as ever, the first springtime running of Rally Japan promises to be a defining chapter in the 2026 season.
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