By SHIGETAKA KODAMA/ Staff Writer
November 7, 2025 at 17:32 JST
The Japan round of the World Rally Championship begins on Nov. 6 with an opening ceremony in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. (Shigetaka Kodama)
TOYOTA, Aichi Prefecture–The World Rally Championship, one of the premier motorsport competitions alongside Formula One, launched its penultimate round in Japan here on Nov. 6 before heading to steep mountain roads.
The opening ceremony featured a glittering parade of 38 modified rally cars in front of Meitetsu Toyotashi Station, drawing cheers from enthusiastic fans lining the streets.
The four-day event runs through Nov. 9, with 20 competitive stages covering approximately 300 kilometers across the mountainous areas of Aichi and Gifu prefectures.
WRC drivers race against the clock, not directly against each other, on public roads closed to regular traffic.
They will face uniquely Japanese challenges and delights, including narrow winding mountain roads adorned with autumn foliage and specially designed urban circuits.
In the manufacturers’ category, Toyota Motor Corp. has already clinched its fifth consecutive title this season.
However, the race for the drivers’ championship remains wide open. All eyes are on Takamoto Katsuta, who is aiming for his first WRC victory on home soil.
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