New date brings new challenges at WRC Rally Japan

While many of the stages and surroundings on this week’s Rally Japan will be familiar, the third and final all-asphalt round of the 2026 WRC World Rally Championship will throw new curveballs for the title-chasing crews.

That’s because the WRC’s fifth visit to the technical and twisty asphalt stages around Toyota City, May 28-31, takes place six months earlier than teams have become accustomed to in previous years.

A WRC calendar revamp has moved the event from its traditional November date, and running at a completely different time of year will add new variables to the mix. On the face of it, the biggest change will be the weather, which could impact the nature of the event in multiple ways.

In previous editions, Rally Japan had been held in average temperatures of approximately 60°F, while rain showers were also common. Fall conditions meant the stages were often covered in leaves, making them incredibly slippery and reducing traction and grip out of the tight corners.

With the event now running in a late spring/early summer slot, there will be significantly fewer leaves on the road, which should offer better grip and traction and more consistent stage conditions. Ambient temperatures will also be much higher, with forecasts suggesting highs of between 80°F and 85°F. There is also the potential threat of sudden rainy-season downpours, adding another layer of complexity to tire selection and car setup decisions.

“In theory, the conditions of the rally should be more consistent, which suits us,” says Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley. “It’s less leaves on the road and higher surface temperatures, with sunshine and longer daylight hours than we have in November.

“However, we will be close to the start of the rainy season in the region, and there is a chance that we could experience very sudden downpours – and when it rains, it really rains. The roads will transform to full wet conditions in no time at all, making it very important that we can react to the changes quickly. With high ambient temperatures, the road can also dry very quickly, putting huge stress on any wet tires in the car package.”

Showers have been a feature of Rally Japan’s late-season slot. The move to late spring, close to rainy season, could take precipitation to a whole new level.

When it comes to understanding Japanese weather, home hero Takamoto Katsuta is likely to have the best local knowledge. If usual spring conditions arrive, the Toyota Gazoo Racing driver is expecting the stages to offer much more grip.

“It will be exciting to see how the conditions will change now that the rally is taking place in a different season,” he says. “It will be much warmer than usual, and with fewer leaves and better grip, the conditions could be quite nice. Still, there’s a chance of wet weather if the rainy season that we usually have in June arrives early.”

Heading into Japan, where Katsuta was firmly in the fight for victory last year before a mistake triggered a power steering failure in his GR Yaris Rally1, he trails teammate Elfyn Evans by 12 points in the WRC drivers’ standings.

Based on those championship positions, Evans will start first on the road, with Katsuta, whose best Rally Japan result was third in 2022, heading into the stages second. With cars likely dragging dirt on to the road from any corner cutting, making the surface more polluted for later runners, those are prime positions – and the Japanese driver is determined to make the most of it.

“There is no question, it is full attack. It is very simple,” says Katsuta, who racked up his first two career WRC wins in Kenya and Croatia this year. “I had difficulties last year and this year I will try to do better. Of course it [the road position] is good. It would be nicer to be at the front, but Elfyn did a good job [last round] in Portugal as the first car on the road on the gravel, so for sure he deserves it. I just need to fix the small things and improve where I should.”

Takamoto Katsuta was in the fight for a home win in 2025 (above), before power steering issues forced him out.

Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux is also expecting conditions to be far more stable and predictable than in previous editions of Rally Japan.

“The conditions are likely to be less unpredictable, but the roads are still incredibly technical and demanding, with narrow sections and a lot of commitment needed on every stage,” says the i20 N Rally1 pilot, whose best asphalt finish of the season was fifth in April’s Canary Islands Rally. “Japan will be the last [asphalt] event of the season, and last year we were fighting for podium positions there, so hopefully we can be competitive again.”

With the key to success this week an ability to adapt quickly to the new conditions and react should sudden rain showers hit, Rally1 strugglers M-Sport Ford will be looking to dial their two-car entry in quickly.

“The new date does bring new challenges,” says M-Sport team principal Richard Millener, who’ll oversee the Puma Rally1s of Josh McErlean and rookie Jon Amstrong. “It’s the kind of thing that keeps everyone on their toes, and it will be important that we adapt quickly across the early stages of the week.

“The roads in Aichi and Gifu are incredibly demanding; there’s no hiding place on those mountain stages, and getting the rhythm right between pushing hard and managing the car will be key. We’ve made some good progress on [asphalt] this season so far, so our aim is to hit the ground running in Japan.”

Catch WRC action from all rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship on RACER Network and the RACER+ App. Tune in on Monday, June 1 at 9.00pm ET for full highlights from Rally Japan.

RACER Network is also your home for the WRC Magazine show. With new episodes landing on the Thursday before every WRC event, you can get up to speed for the all-asphalt action from Rally Japan on Thursday, May 28 at 10:30pm ET.

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