Takamoto Katsuta Fastest in WRC Rally Portugal Shakedown as Slippery Stage Tests Drivers

Japanese rally ace Takamoto Katsuta set the fastest time in the shakedown for Rally Paraguay, the 10th round of the WRC season.

The event is making its debut on the world championship calendar this year, and drivers admitted they were surprised by the changing grip levels even on today's short Trinidad stage (4.92 km).

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Katsuta clocked a 2:24.4 on his third and final run through the stage. Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai finished just 0.3 seconds behind the Japanese driver after his fourth attempt.

Most drivers explained that the grip was changing so rapidly, sometimes from one corner to the next, that they couldn't always react in time.

Ott Tänak was the fastest of the title contenders today, finishing 0.6 seconds behind Katsuta after three runs.

Predicting there may be some grip changes in places after recce, every single driver was surprised by just how much it shifted after experiencing the roads at speed on shakedown.

“I can already feel in shakedown that it won’t be an easy weekend,” said Sébastien Ogier.

“Grip is changing a lot, it’s hard to read and it’s all happening at high speed.”Ott Tänak added: “From shakedown it looks much more tricky than anticipated. The grip changes are massive so it’s a tricky surface.”

World championship leader Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) was fourth, 0.4 seconds adrift of the Estonian, also completing three passes.

Following them were Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), who matched Neuville's time, Elfyn Evans (Toyota), Sébastien Ogier (Toyota), and Sami Pajari (Toyota). The top 10 was rounded out by the two M-Sport drivers, Joshua McErlean and Grégoire Munster.