Japan lastly returns to the WRC schedule for the primary time since 2010 with an all-new occasion following cancellations because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Earlier WRC occasions in Japan have been held on slender gravel roads, whereas this yr’s rally options 19 all-new phases taking in twisty asphalt roads across the Aichi area. The brand new location and route is anticipated to supply a extreme check to crews.

Ogier is ready to deal with the rally alongside a brand new co-driver in Vincent Landais, who has been calling notes for M-Sport’s Pierre-Louis Loubet this season.

“I’m actually excited for Rally Japan. It was fairly a giant disappointment the final two years that this rally needed to be cancelled as we undoubtedly see it as a spotlight for us as Toyota drivers,” stated Ogier, the winner of the final Rally Japan in 2010.

“I like the nation itself and have some good reminiscences from there: I solely competed there as soon as earlier than nevertheless it was a win, so there’s additionally some strain to try to preserve my 100% document.

“This rally will likely be completely completely different to earlier than, although, and possibly fairly a demanding one from what we’ve got seen to date. However I all the time just like the problem of a totally new rally the place everyone begins from scratch and has to adapt as rapidly as attainable.

“I’m certain the expertise goes to be a particular one and I’m trying ahead to it.”

It is a view shared by Ogier’s Toyota team-mates Elfyn Evans and newly topped world champion Kalle Rovanpera.

After a disappointing run to sixth final day trip on Spain’s clean tarmac roads, Evans is planning to make use of this occasion as a springboard for his 2023 marketing campaign.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photograph by: Toyota Racing

“Personally the final spherical in Spain was not the very best for me, however hopefully we are able to use the rally in Japan to search out some enhancements and put together for subsequent yr in a great way,” stated Evans.

“I used to be there in 2019 to recce a number of the phases across the space of the rally and, from what I bear in mind, the roads had been very demanding with sections that had been extraordinarily twisty and slender, and others which had been extra quick and flowing. So there’ll in all probability be a whole lot of adjustments in character to cope with through the rally.”

Having wrapped up the producers’ title in Spain, this weekend’s finale affords Toyota an opportunity to log off the yr in fashion in entrance of its house crowd with out the added strain of getting to combat for championships.

Regardless of the pressure-free atmosphere, Rovanpera is anticipating a “very difficult” occasion to culminate his championship profitable season.

“It’s going to be very good to lastly have the ability to go to Rally Japan, and particularly after a season like we’ve got had with the crew this yr, with such good outcomes and the championships already within the bag,” stated Rovanpera.

“It means the crew can go to Japan extra relaxed and luxuriate in this house rally, and we are going to attempt to push onerous and hopefully have a extremely good consequence on the finish of it.

“Having seen some phases there three years in the past, I believe it’s going to be a extremely difficult occasion.

“There are some wider and smoother roads in addition to some very slender forest sections which may also be fairly soiled. So it’s going to be a tough recce earlier than the rally with roads that we’re not used to and a whole lot of new pacenotes to put in writing.”