The first day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Nikolay Gryazin leads WRC2 after the day.
Shakedown
WRC2 champion Andreas Mikkelsen topped the shakedown stage for the WRC2 class. Posting a time 1.7 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Heikki Kovalanen finished third fastest, 0.4 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanowicz set the fourth fastest time on the shakedown stage, 2.3 seconds slower than Kovalanen. Daniel Chwist rounded out the top five, 4.3 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.
SSS1, Toyota Stadium
Nikolay Gryazin took the win on the first stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. Setting a time 1.3 seconds faster than Mikkelsen. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished third fastest on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Heikki Kovalanen posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz. Daniel Chwist rounded out the top five on the opening stage, 4.6 seconds slower than Kovalanen.
What To Expect From Forum8 Rally Japan Day Two
The second day of Forum8 Rally Japan will see drivers contest seven special stages, totalling to 133.26 km. This includes two loops of three stages totalling to 65.58 km each loop. The seventh stage will be the SuperSpecial stage at the Toyota Stadium. The same stage ran today. Drivers will have a service at the end of each loop.
Short Entry List For WRC2 For Forum8 Rally Japan
Forum8 Rally Japan will have a short entry list for the WRC2 class. Andreas Mikkelsen, Nikolay Gryazin, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and last year’s winner Grégoire Munster will headline the class. Alongside other local drivers. The short entry list was expected, as Rally Japan is a bit more expensive than other events to compete in. Compared to European events which have nearly endless entry lists. The short entry list is also the result of the majority of drivers being out of point-scoring rounds. Nevertheless, there will still be competition this weekend, just a lot less than normal.
The 2023 World Rally Championship continues this weekend with the thirteenth and final round, Forum8 Rally Japan.
Championship Rundown
Andreas Mikkelsen clinched his second WRC2 championship last time out. Despite being tied with Gus Greensmith for the championship lead. How? Mikkelsen wins via countback. Mikkelsen also has one point scoring round left this season, which will be used this weekend. Greensmith ran out of events at the end of the Central European Rally. Yohan Rossel’s season is also over, with the Frenchmen ending the season 7 points behind Greensmith and Mikkelsen. Oliver Solberg’s season ended two events ago, he still sits 13 points behind Rossel. Sami Pajari’s season also ended two events ago, he sits 5 points behind Solberg.
Who Is Competing This Weekend?
Forum8 Rally Japan will have a short entry list for the WRC2 class. Andreas Mikkelsen, Nikolay Gryazin, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and last year’s winner Grégoire Munster will headline the class. Alongside other local drivers. The short entry list was expected, as Rally Japan is a bit more expensive than other events to compete in. Compared to European events which have nearly endless entry lists. The short entry list is also the result of the majority of drivers being out of point-scoring rounds. Nevertheless, there will still be competition this weekend, just a lot less than normal.
Back To WRC2
Grégoire Munster will drop back down to WRC2 after competing Rally Chile BioBio and the Central European Rally in a Rally1 car. Munster won Forum8 Rally Japan last season, and will look to do the same this weekend. This could also be Munster’s last event in a WRC2 car for the foreseeable future. As he has hinted at competing Rallye Monte-Carlo next season in a Rally1 car. Munster won’t have an easy time taking the win this weekend. As he will have to fend off WRC2 champion Andreas Mikkelsen, among others.
The Central European Rally has come to an end. Nicolas Ciamin took home the win to claim the first WRC2 class win of his career.
Day One
The first day of the Central European Rally saw drivers contest two SuperSpecial stages. WRC2 class leader Andreas Mikkelsen kicked off the event with a win on SSS1. However, his lead was short-lived as Mikkelsen’s championship rival Yohan Rossel won SS2 to take a 3.2-second lead over Mikkelsen.
Day Two
The second day of the event saw drivers contest 6 stages. Nikolay Gryazin was the Kalle Rovanperä of the WRC2 class. Winning three of the days six stages. However, only five of those stages were run as SS6 was canceled due to safety concerns. Despite winning all but two stages on the day Gryazin didn’t lead the event to end the day. Instead, Emil Lindholm ended the day with a 14.9-second lead over Erik Cais.
Day Three
The penultimate day of the Central European Rally saw drivers once again contest six stages. Emil Lindholm took three of the six stage wins on the day to expand his lead to 20.9 over Nicolas Ciamin to end the day. Nothing major happened on the day which is out of character for a rally.
Day Four
The fourth and final day of the event saw drivers contest four stages. Emil Lindholm lost the rally lead before even starting the first stage of the day. As Lindholm suffered an alternator issue on the way to the days opening stage, ending his event. This promoted Nicolas Ciamin into the rally lead. Ciamin maintained the lead throughout the day. Andreas won two of the days four stages including the Powerstage. All to secure the 2023 WRC2 championship.
Championship Rundown
Andreas Mikkelsen leaves the Central European Rally tied with Gus Greensmith for the WRC2 championship lead. Despite the two being tied Mikkelsen has won the championship. As Greensmith has no point-scoring events remaining. While Mikkelsen still has one. Mikkelsen doesn’t have to score a single point in Japan however as he will still win the championship regardless via countback. Yohan Rossel sits third in the championship, 7 points behind Mikkelsen and Greensmith. Rossel much like Greensmith has no point-scoring rounds remaining. Oliver Solberg maintains fourth in the championship, 13 points behind Rossel. Sami Pajari also stays in the same position as before the event. As Pajari remains fifth overall, 6 points behind Solberg.
Unfortunate Endings
Yohan Rossel
Yohan Rossel’s championship hopes came to an end on the first stage of the second day. Rossel would go wide on a corner into the grass. Normally this wouldn’t be much of an issue. However, with Rossel using tarmac slicks going on to wet grass was like driving on ice. With no grip available Rossel was left to slide into some small trees. Ending his championship hopes and event.
Emil Lindholm
Emil Lindholm was one pace to have his best finish of the season. Unfortunately for Lindholm an alternator issue on the transit to the first stage of the final day ended his event earlier. The 2022 WRC2 champion’s season came to an unfortunate end.
Earlier this week the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT announced two drivers that will drive in WRC2 as part of the Next Generation program.
Who Are They?
The two drivers that will drive for the Toyota Gazoo Racing Next Generation team in WRC2 next season are Yuki Yamamoto and Hikaru Kogure. Both Yamamoto and Kogure drove in the WRC4 class this past season at select events. Following in Takamoto Katsuta’s footsteps both Japanese drivers will drive select European events for the team. It hasn’t been confirmed what car they will drive. However, it’s a safe bet that they will drive the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
A Bit About The Drivers
Yuki Yamamoto
Born in Japan, Yamamoto is a 26-year-old driver. They have competed in a Rally4 car for the last two seasons. Yamamoto has competed at select rounds of the Finnish Rally Championship and the World Rally Championship among others. Finishing 7th in the ERT4 class in the FRC last season, and 3rd in the ERT4 Junior championship. Yamamoto has shown steady development as a part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing NG Team. Yamamoto made his rally debut in 2018 at the Rally in Akitakata in Japan. From 2018 to 2021 Yamamoto competed in Japan. Before joining the Toyota Gazoo Racing NG team.
Hikaru Kogure
Born in Japan, Kogure is a 22-year-old rally driver. Making his rally debut in 2020 at the Shikoku no Teppen Rally in Japan. Kogure spent his first two years competing in Japan before joining the Toyota Gazoo Racing NG team. Much like Yamamoto, Kogure competed in select rounds of the FRC and WRC last season. Finishing 9th in the ERT4 class and 5th in ERT4 Junior.
Why Straight To Rally2?
Yamamoto and Kogure will jump from 2WD Rally4 cars to 4WD Rally2 cars, but why? Normally drivers would drive in a Rally3 car before Rally2. However for Toyota this likely makes more sense. As it’s worked for them before, well sort of. As Takamoto Katsuta started driving in a 2WD Toyota GT86 some years ago. Before joining Tommi Makinen Racing, which was a part of Toyota. There is a difference between the GT86 Katsuta drove and the Rally4 cars Yamamoto and Kogure drove. The premise is the same, however. Plus ultimately this move just skips a stepping stone for the drivers and allows them to learn and develop in the Rally2 cars. As opposed to driving a Rally3 car and then a Rally2 car.
The 2023 WRC2 championship has been crowned. Andreas Mikkelsen secured the championship this past weekend.
Champions Again
Andreas Mikkelsen is now a 2 time WRC2 champion. Winning the WRC2 championship in 2021 and nearly winning it last season. Mikkelsen has been one of the top drivers in the WRC2 class for the past couple of seasons. Winning the WRC2 championship this season is a bit of a shock for Mikkelsen. As the Norwegian not only started his season at the fifth round of the season at Vodafone Rally De Portugal. There were also many questions about funding for Mikkelsen this season. There was also the possibility of Mikkelsen returning to the sports top level this season. As Mikkelsen was apparently the one chosen to replace Craig Breen after Breen passed away in April. However, the contract never came for Mikkelsen and Teemu Suninen got the spot instead.
The First Of Many
Andreas Mikkelsen’s WRC2 Championship this season just wasn’t for him. It was also for Sköda. As the manufacturer debuted a new Sköda Fabia R5 this season. Mikkelsen will go down in history as the first driver to win a championship in the car. Mikkelsen will likely be the first of many to win a championship in the car.
Mikkelsen’s 2023 WRC2 Season
Andreas Mikkelsen has only competed in 6 events so far this season. Despite starting late Mikkelsen got off to a hot start. Placing third at Vodafone Rally De Portugal, his first event of the season. Mikkelsen took the win on his second event of the season at Rally Italia Sardegna. Skipping Safari Rally Kenya, Mikkelsen returned at Rally Estonia. Winning the event for his second consecutive win at an event he attended. Things changed at Secto Rally Finland however. As the Norwegian finished 4th after some struggles at the event. However, everything was back on track at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. As Mikkelsen put on a monster drive to win the event after getting three punctures on the first day.
Mikkelsen skipped Rally Chile BioBio, which allowed his championship rivals Yohan Rossel and Gus Greensmith to take the championship lead. Neither driver capitalized on that opportunity. Mikkelsen went into the Central European Rally with a 4-point lead over Rossel and 8 over Greensmith. With Rossel crashing out on the second day his season was over. Leaving only Greensmith in Mikkelsen’s way. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Mikkelsen. As he struggled throughout the event. Ending the second day 20th in class. His chances looked bleak. However, with a Powerstage win Mikkelsen secured the championship.
The fourth and final day of the Central European Rally has come to an end. Nicolas Ciamin took the lead to claim the class win.
SS15, Bohmerwald 1
Nicolas Ciaamin kicked off the fourth and final day of the Central European Rally with a stage win. With Ciamin posting a time 0.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to take the stage win. Alejandro Cachòn finished third fastest on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Gryazin. Simon Wagner set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.8 seconds slower than Cachòn. Josh McErlean rounded out the top five on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Wagner.
SS16, Passauer Land 1
Andreas Mikkelsen claimed the stage win on the sixteenth stage of the Central European Rally. Setting a time 0.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win the stage. Nicolas Ciamin finished third fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Gryazin. Alejandro Cachòn posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 8.6 seconds slower than Ciamin. Erik Cais rounded out the top five on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Cachòn.
SS17, Bohmerwald 2
Nikolay Gryazin took home the stage win on SS17. Posting a time 2.7 seconds faster than Alejandro Cachòn on the stage. Sami Pajari finished third fastest on the stage, 3.6 seconds slower than Cachòn. Nicolas Ciamin set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Pajari. Miko Marczyk and Erik Cais rounded out the top five on the stage. With each finishing 1.3 seconds slower than Ciamin.
SS18, Passauer Land 2
Andreas Mikkelsen took home the stage win on the eighteenth and final stage of the Central European Rally. With Mikkelsen setting a time 1.6 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win the stage. Nicolas Ciamin finished third fastest on the stage, 3 seconds slower than Gryazin. Alejandro Cachòn posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 6.1 seconds slower than Ciamin. Erik Cais rounded out the top five on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Cachòn.
Lindholm Retires
Emil Lindholm had all but won the class to start the final day of the Central European Rally. However, his rally would come to an abrupt end before the start of the first stage of the day. As an alternator failure on the road section between SS15 and service. This promoted Nicolas Ciamin to the class lead. Ciamin held onto the lead to take his first-ever WRC2 victory.
The third day of the Central European Rally has come to an end. Emil Lindholm retains the WRC2 class lead on the day.
SS9, Schärdinger Innviertel 1
Nicolas Ciamin kicked off the third day of the Central European Rally with a stage win. Posting a time 4.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to take the stage win. Erik Cais finished third fastest on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than Gryazin. Sami Pajari set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Cais. Josh McErlean rounded out the top five on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS10, Mühltal 1
Emil Lindholm topped the 10th stage of the weekend. With the Fin setting a time 3.2 seconds faster than Nicolas Ciamin. Nikolay Gryazin finished third on the stage, 2.6 seconds slower than Ciamin. Erik Cais posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanoiwcz rounded out the top five on the stage, 10.7 seconds slower than Cais.
SS11, Knaus Tabbert Bayerischer Wald 1
Nicolas Ciamin rounded out the morning loop of the third day of the Central European Rally with a stage win. Posting a time 0.3 seconds faster than Emil Lindholm to take the stage win. Erik Cais finished third fastest on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Lindholm. Nikolay Gryazin set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Cais. Miko Marczyk rounded out the top five on the stage, 7.7 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS12, Schärdinger Innviertel 2
Gus Greensmith took the stage win on the twelfth stage of the weekend. Setting a time 1 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to take the stage win. Nicolas Ciamin finished third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Gryazin. Sami Pajari posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.3 seconds slower than Ciamin. Emil Lindholm rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS13, Mühltal 2
Emil Lindholm topped the thirteenth stage of the weekend. Posting a time 1.2 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win the stage. Nicolas Ciamin finished third fastest on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Gryazin. Erik Cais set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Ciamin. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 9 seconds slower than Cais.
SS14, Knaus Tabbert Bayerischer Wald 2
Emil Lindholm capped off the third day of the Central European Rally with a stage win. Setting a time 1.2 seconds faster than Gus Greensmith. Erik Cais finished third fastest on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Greensmith. Nicolas Ciamin posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Cais. Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage. With both drivers finishing 5.6 seconds slower than Ciamin.
The second day of the Central European has come to an end. Emil Lindholm took the WRC2 class lead on the day.
SS3, Vlachovo Brezi 1
Emil Lindholm kicked off the second day of the Central European Rally with a stage win. With Lindholm posting a time 1.6 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen. Nicolas Ciamin finished third fastest on the stage, 4.9 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Erik Cais set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.7 seconds slower than Ciamin. Georg Linnamäe rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 6.1 seconds slower than Cais.
SS4, Zvotoky 1
Nikolay Gryazin took his first stage win of the weekend on SS4. Setting a time 11.7 seconds faster than Emil Lindholm and Alejandro Cachòn on the stage. Miko Marczyk finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 4.5 seconds slower than Lindholm and Cachòn. Erik Cais posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.2 seconds slower than Marczyk. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top five fastest times on the stage, finishing 1.6 seconds slower than Cais.
SS5, Sumavske Hostice 1
Nikolay Gryazin also took the stage win on the fifth stage of the Central European Rally. Posting a time 16.2 seconds faster than Gus Greensmith to take the stage win. Emil Lindholm finished third fastest on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Greensmith. Kajetan Kajetanowicz set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Lindholm. Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, 2.3 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.
SS6, Vlachovo Brezi 2
Cancelled due to spectator issues.
SS7, Zvotoky 2
Nicolas Ciamin took his first WRC2 stage win on SS7. Setting a time 1.7 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win the stage. Erik Cais finished third fastest on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanoiwcz posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.5 seconds slower than Cais. Gus Greensmtih rounded the top five on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.
SS8, Sumavske Hostice 2
Nikolay Gryazin capped off the second day of the Central European Rally with a stage win. Posting a time 5.7 seconds faster than Emil Lindholm to win the stage. Erik Cais finished third fastest on the stage, 3.1 seconds slower than Lindholm. Gus Greensmith set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.3 seconds slower than Cais. Georg Linnamäe rounded out the top five on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Greensmith.
Rossel Out
Yohan Rossel’s event and championship hopes ended on SS3. Rossel would go into a corner slightly too fast and go off the road. Normally this would be insignificant. However, on tarmac tires driving on grass is like driving on ice. There’s no grip to be had so the car just slides. Unfortunately for Rossel that sliding ended up with him knocking a few trees over.
Trouble For Mikkelsen
The second day of the Central European Rally wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Andrea’s Mikkelsen. Besides the fact that there was very little sun at all during the day. Mikkelsen suffered a puncture during the morning loop and spent the afternoon loop nursing the car. With no service between the loops, day two was effectively a drive to survive for all drivers. Mikkelsen likely won’t be scoring any championship points this weekend now. As he sits over 11 minutes behind the rally leader and over 9 behind the final points-scoring position.
The first day of the Central European Rally has come to an end. Yohan Rossel leads the WRC2 class at the end of the day.
SSS1, Velka Chuchle
WRC2 Championship leader Andreas Mikkelsen started the Central European Rally with a stage win. Mikkelsen would set a time 0.2 seconds faster than Miko Marczyk to take the stage win. Yohan Rossel finished third fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Simon Wagner posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Rossel. Nicolas Ciamin rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Wagner.
SSS2, Circuit Of Klatovy
Yohan Rossel took the win on the second stage of the weekend. Posting a time 2.9 seconds faster than Kajetan Kajetanowicz to take the stage win. Gus Greensmith finished third fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz. Nikolay Gryazin and Andreas Mikkelsen tied for the fourth fastest time on the stage. With both drivers posting a time 0.1 seconds slower than Greensmith. Nicolas Ciamin rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 1.1 seconds slower than Gryazin and Mikkelsen.
What To Expect From Day Two Of The Central European Rally
The first full day of the Central European Rally will see drivers face two loops of three stages totalling 60.90 km each loop and 121.80 km total. Andreas Mikkelsen will be first on the road for the WRC2 class. Road sweeping won’t be an issue for Mikkelsen as with any event the Rally1 cars will run beforehand. However, Mikkelsen is in the best WRC2 position as overtime more mud and dirt will get swept out onto the stage via drivers cutting. Yohan Rossel will be second on the road with Gus Greensmith third.
Much like the WRC1 Championship the WRC2 Championship can also be won this weekend. Find out how below.
Who Can Win?
Andreas Mikkelsen, Gus Greensmith and Yohan Rossel are the only drivers who have a chance to win the WRC2 championship. However, only Andreas Mikkelsen can win this weekend at the Central European Rally. Find out how below and how Rossel and Greensmith can stop him.
Andreas Mikkelsen
Andreas Mikkelsen leads the WRC2 championship heading into the Central European Rally. Mikkelsen actively has a 4-point lead over Rossel and an 8-point lead over Greensmith. Meaning Mikkelsen can win the championship in the following ways.
-Score more points than Rossel and Greensmith.
-Score the same amount of points as Rossel and Greensmith.
-Score within 4 points less than Rossel.
-Score within 8 points less than Greensmith.
Yohan Rossel
Yohan Rossel can prevent Mikkelsen from claiming the championship this weekend by scoring 5 or more points than Mikkelsen. However, even if Rossel outscores Mikkelsen it will likely only delay the inevitable. As this weekend at the Central European Rally is Rossel’s final event of the WRC2 season. For Rossel to have a chance at winning the WRC2 championship he will have to score at as possible over Mikkelsen. The maximum Rossel can score over Mikkelsen this weekend is 24. As the highest a driver can earn with a victory in WRC2 is 28 which also includes a Powerstage win.
Gus Greensmith
Gus Greensmith can prevent Mikkelsen from winning the championship this weekend by scoring 9 more points than him. However much like Rossel this doesn’t mean Greensmith will have a chance at the championship. It will once again only delay the inevitable. The maximum amount of points Greensmith can score over Mikkelsen is 20. There’s a slim margin of error for Greensmith if he wants to win the WRC2 championship. The Central European Rally is also Greensmith’s final event of the season.