WRC 2024

FIA World Rally Championship
FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024

The City of Toyota—the City of Automobiles—is home to Toyota Motor Corporation as well as numerous automobile industry production bases and serves as one of the areas in which the WRC is held. While known as a center for the automotive industry, nearly 70% of Toyota City is occupied by forestland with the Yahagi River running through and rural landscapes as far as the eye can see, letting rally fans enjoy the competitions among a natural backdrop.
Special Stages (SS) are sure to please with the mountainous Isegami's Tunnel SS, Inabu Shitara SS, and Lake Mikawako SS. Plans are also in place for Toyota Stadium to act as the stage for a Super Special Stage (SSS) with two cars starting at the same time for a time attack competition as was held last year to high acclaim.
Aichi Prefecture's Toyota City is epicenter for the rallies of Japan and sets the stage and tone for exciting matches. Come and enjoy your stay as you savor the fervor of the rally and all the city's allure.

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All about
Toyota's WRC!

Ticket info

Spectator tickets and set plan tickets including lodging are available for Special Stages held in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.

Hotel/Spectator Plan with TOYOTA STADIUM
Super Special Stage Spectator Tickets

Spectator tickets + accommodation

The TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage is back again due to high demand! Plans are available in limited numbers with spectator tickets as well as accommodation at hotels around Toyota City for a worry-free experience. Numbers are limited, so act fast and make a reservation sooner than later!
Note:
• Make reservations by directly contacting the hotel of your choice.

Available Special Stages: Thu, Nov 21: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS1)
Sat, Nov 23: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS16)
Sun, Nov 24: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS20)

Tour info / Ticket purchase (Japanese)

Toyota’s historical romantic autumn foliage spot “Matsudaira Toshogu Shrine”& “WRC Toyota Stadium SSS” spectating one-day bus tour

Spectator tickets + Bus tour

In the solemn atmosphere of Matsudaira Toshogu Shrine, which enshrines the founder of the Matsudaira clan, Chikauji Matsudaira,who laid the foundation of the Tokugawa 300 years, you can enjoy the autumn leaves in red and yellow and watch the Toyota Stadium SSS of FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024, a world-class rally festival. This is a one-day bus tour to enjoy the charms of Toyota City in the past and present!

Available Special Stages: Sun, Nov 24: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS20)

Tour info / Ticket purchase

One-day Spectator Tickets

Spectator tickets

With tickets sold out in a matter of minutes last year, spectator tickets are to be sold through a drawing this year.

Available Special Stages: Thu, Nov 21: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS1)
Sat, Nov 23: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS16)
Sun, Nov 24: TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage (SS20)

Tour info / Ticket purchase

ENJOY WRC

The World Rally Championship (WRC) is held in spots across Toyota City,
letting eventgoers enjoy the event's fervor and excitement all over the city not only during but before and after the competition.

WRC schedule

Every day
Thu, Nov 21
Fri, Nov 22
Sat, Nov 23
Sun, Nov 24

Toyota City map

Toyota area

Inabu area

Asahi area

Shimoyama area

Toyota Stadium

TOYOTA STADIUM Super Special Stage

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

Service Park

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

Opening Ceremony

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

Ceremonial Finish

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

Time attack races, the Service Park, and competition coverage—all at Toyota Stadium… But it doesn't stop there! Don't miss the cafeteria corner with food trucks featuring local eats, booths with ties to the cars and races, interviews, signing sessions, stage talks, and more programs all day than you can shake a stick at. The opening and closing ceremonies steep the stadium in dazzling light and sound you just have to see to believe!

Note:
• Spectator venues require a ticket. Details available from the Spectator Ticket Guide.

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Special program

11/21

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's special air show team
Blue Impulse is set to shoot through the skies above Toyota Stadium on November 21.: Note:
• Times, etc. still undecided. Check back as details are posted when available.
• Find more info on the Japan Air Self-Defense Force from the official website.

Kuragaike Park

Kuragaike Shakedown

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

The "Shakedown" is a test run before the real rally begins and it takes place in Toyota City's Kuragaike Park—beloved by citizens as a natural oasis away from the city. The expansive park is home to a botanical garden, zoo, pasture, and children's playhouse full of jungle gym equipment as well as other enticing aspects.

Note:
• Spectator venues require a ticket.

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Asahi Nature Highland, etc.

Isegami's Tunnel Special Stage

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

The Old Isegami Tunnel is only wide enough for a single car to pass through and the perfect Special Stage for a thrilling run. Past videos of cars shooting through are the talk of the rally community. The spectator area is located at the outdoor Asahi Nature Highland facility's wonderful natural setting.

Note:
• Spectator venues require a ticket.

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Inabu areaKuroda Dam and Donguri no Sato Inabu Rest Stop

Inabu Shitara Special Stage

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

The forested area around Kuroda Dam serves as the spectator area. The Donguri no Sato Inabu Rest Stop offers general viewing and is the closest spot to the liaison venue, making for a spectacular location to enjoy the festivities.

Note:
• Spectator venues require a ticket.

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Lake Mikawako areaMadoi no Oka Shimoyama Health and Welfare Center, Habu area, Karen no Yakata Rest Stop, and Lake Mikawako Tourist Center

Lake Mikawako Special Stage

11/21

11/22

11/23

11/24

Lake Mikawako Super Stage hosts the 2024 Power Stage (final race). Watch as the cars soar past lakeside scenes, rice paddies, and traditional Japanese houses in this spectator area available through numerous locations.

Note:
• Spectator venues require a ticket.

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Notes:
• The schedules above are current as of July 17, 2024. Changes may occur as the championship unfolds. Updates made as they occur.
• Spectator venues excluding liaison venues require a spectator ticket. Details available from the Spectator Ticket Guide.
• The above photos are from the 2023 competition.

TOURIST SPOTS

Tourist information

Must-see sightseeing spots

Must-see natural colors of Toyota City in November: The fiery reds of Korankei Gorge's Japanese maples in the Asuke area and gentle pinks of the Obara area's four-season cherry blossoms are not to be missed. Meeting their peak beauty just as the rally is held, Toyota City cordially invites you to take a side trip out to its natural wonders to bask in their beauty!

Known around Japan for its stunning fall colors

Korankei Gorge

Each November, Korankei Gorge in the Asuke area of Toyota City shows the vibrant colors of some 400 Japanese maples during the local Maple Festival. The reds, oranges, and yellows are available to view even into the night during the festival period as the spotlight is literally shown on them through nighttime illumination.

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Obara's Shikizakura Four-season cherry blossoms

A contrast of gentle pinks and fiery reds

Toyota City's Obara area is home to 10,000 Shikizakura four-season cherry blossoms. This fall-blooming variety is even more beautiful than its typical spring-time cousins, making for a beautiful collaboration with the autumn hues. Obara's Shikizakura four-season cherry blossoms showcase their phenomenal grace during the Shikizakura Four-Season Cherry Blossom Festival in November.

Learn more

FOOD & SHOPPING

RALLY WEEK

Mind-blowing speeds
as the craziest
drivers duke it out…
on public roads!!

The WRC motorsport has been held over 40 years on a whole host of roads around the world, mainly in Europe. The incredible cars used in the races are actually developed with commercial vehicles as their base. From rough gravel roads and highspeed tarmac raceways to roads covered in snow and ice, the cars battle not only the clock but a myriad of challenging road conditions. Each rally is made up by a number of Special Stages, where drivers and co-drivers race to complete the section in the shortest time possible, and the Liaison Sections (connection zones between the Special Stages). Each team competes for the best total time in the competition with each round lasting three to four days. Drivers race through the Special Stages together with their co-drivers, who hold on to pace notes containing info on course conditions, in competitions where a difference of 0.1 seconds makes all the difference between a win and a loss. The WRC rivals Formula 1 as the international pinnacle of motorsports, surging fans around world with electric excitement.

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WRC Rally Week at a glance


	Ceremonial Start The Ceremonial Start at Toyota Stadium acts as a dazzling opening to the competition, allowing you to see the world’s leading rallyists at close quarters. Toyota Stadium also acts as the Service Park, where you can see up close mechanics as they work their magic as well as drivers and engineers conferring with one another.

Special Stages & Liaison Sections: Public roads are closed off as competing vehicles race over them in a battle against the clock. One Special Stage may be anywhere from a few kilometers to over 50. Together with the Liaison Sections, the distance driven in a single competition can surpass 1,000 kilometers. It’s entirely possible to happen upon a competing car at a stoplight on its way to a Special Stage!

Power Stage & Ceremonial Finish: The final day of the round entails a unique Special Stage known as the “Power Stage”, where teams can pick up bonus points in addition to their overall ranking. The competition closes with the Ceremonial Finish, featuring an awards ceremony. You just may watch the driver of the GR Yaris (the Toyota Motor Company sports vehicle used by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing) crowned champion of this season!

Check course info / time schedule (Japanese)

Event areas

Service Park:: Toyota Stadium

Event areas:

◎Aichi Prefecture (Toyota City, Okazaki City, Shinshiro City, and Shitara Town)
◎Gifu Prefecture (Ena City and Nakatsugawa City)

TEAMS

Three teams vying for victory

TOYOTA GR YARIS RALLY1 HYBRID
WORLD RALLY TEAM

Headquarters: Japan
Founded: 2016
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing made a return to the WRC in 2017 as the Toyota-backed team and took the Manufacturers' Title in 2018. The team is based in Finland with TGR (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing) Europe at the helm of engine development. With three of the all-new “Toyota GR Yaris Rally1” cars behind them, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team is sure to sway the fight for the title.
HYUNDAI I20 N RALLY1 HYBRID WORLD RALLY TEAM

Headquarters: Germany
Founded: 2012
Rejoining the WRC in 2014, the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team boasts a wealth of achievements, such as holding the Manufacturer's Title for the 2019-2020 season. The team wields three of the new “Hyundai i20 N WRC Rally1” cars, based on the Hyundai i20 N. And with a crew of champion drivers, the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is certainly at an advantage in the battle for victory.
FORD PUMA HYBRID RALLY1 WORLD RALLY TEAM

Headquarters: England
Founded: 2006
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has been in charge of vehicle development and rally operations as Ford's technical supplier since 1997 and took the Manufacturer's Title in the 2006-2007 season. The team is featuring a maximum of four of the all-new “Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1” car. With incredibly solid cars, M-Sports Ford definitely has rally fans' attention.

Featured
Japanese driver

Takamoto Katsuta

Born in Aichi Prefecture, March 17, 1993. Katsuta made his racing debut at 11 years old with go-karts before going on to take the title of Formula Challenge Japan champion at the age of 18. He later took second place at the Formula 3 series after turning 20, continuing to drive in Formula 3 from 2014 while also competing in the All Japan Rally Championship, where he won his first JN Class victory in Round 8. He took to the podium with 3rd place in the WRC2 class of the FIA WRC held in Italy, 2017. The following year in 2018, he took his first victory for WRC2 in Round 2 of the FIA WRC in Sweden. He then triumphed at the 2019 WRC's Round 6 WRC2 class in Chile, bagged two races with the Yaris World Rally Car at the Finland Rally Championship, and drove the Yaris World Rally Car in the headline category of the WRC's Rally Germany and Rally Spain. Katsuta went on to race in five headline categories with the Yaris World Rally Car in 2020, and took the Power Stage in the final round of Rally Monza, making a name for himself with his first record speed. In 2021, he ranked within the top sixth places for six consecutive races after the competition began and stepped up to his first WRC podium with second place at Safari Rally Kenya. Katsuta took a triumphant third at the 2022 Rally Japan, setting the hopes for even more spectacular shows to come.

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FIA World Rally Championship
FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024