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WRC Rally Japan 2026
Rally Japan debuted in the WRC in 2004 on Hokkaidō's twisty gravel roads near Obihiro, moving to Sapporo in 2008 before a hiatus after 2010. It returned in 2022 on tarmac in Aichi and Gifu, based in Toyota City. The event's asphalt stages, narrow and technical with forest and mountain settings, test drivers' accuracy and adaptability. Weather variability adds complexity, from rain-slicked roads to fog. Early winners included Petter Solberg and Sébastien Loeb, with Toyota dominating recent editions. Its evolution from gravel to tarmac reflects Japan's motorsport innovation, drawing global attention and boosting local enthusiasm.
