WRC Estonia: Katsuta withdraws as doctors advise co-driver to rest
Takamoto Katsuta has withdrawn from Rally Estonia after doctors advised co-driver Daniel Barritt to rest after being taken to hospital for neck and back pain.
The Toyota pairing had made a strong start to the seventh round of the World Rally Championship on the fast and jump laded Estonian gravel roads before drama stuck.
Katsuta and Barritt were sitting third overall after stage four but the pair were forced to stop on the road section to stage five when Barritt reported neck and back pain.
Barritt was then transferred to hospital for treatment and has since been released without serious injury.
However, Toyota has confirmed the pair will not restart the rally after medical professionals advised Barritt to rest up.
“After he underwent further assessment by doctors, we can confirm that Dan Barritt is OK and has not broken anything,” read a statement from Toyota.
“He has however been advised to rest, and therefore Takamoto Katsuta and Dan will not restart the rally.”
Takamoto Katsuta, Daniel Barritt, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
The news will come as a blow to the pair having been the surprise package of the WRC season to date.
Last month they finished second behind Sebastien Ogier at the Safari Rally, which was Katsuta’s maiden podium in rallying’s top tier.
Prior to retirement from this weekend’s rally, Katsuta and Barritt were the only crew to have finished every event inside the top six.
Katsuta’s demise from the rally is the latest retirement in a brutal Friday in Estonia that began with rally favourite Ott Tanak forced out of the running after stage three having suffered three punctures in the morning’s opening two stages.
The Hyundai driver is set to return on Saturday under restart rules.
The Estonian will be joined by M-Sport Ford’s Gus Greensmith, who retired with a technical issue on his Ford Fiesta after stage 4.
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera led the rally by 4.8s from Hyundai’s Craig Breen after the opening four stages of the day with championship leader Ogier in third.
Related video
Previous article
Toyota confirms Ogier WEC outing discussions
Next article
WRC Estonia: Rovanpera edges Breen to end Friday on top
Vodafone Rally de Portugal Friday afternoon recap
Croatia Rally SS5-SS8
WRC Croatia Rally 2021 Teaser
TOP 5 reasons to watch Croatia Rally 2021!
How Finland’s newest rally hero made WRC history in Estonia
Kalle Rovanpera broke a decade-old record in becoming the World Rally Championship's youngest-ever winner in a truly dominant performance on Estonia's fast gravel roads. Staving off the challenge of Hyundai's Craig Breen, his committed drive showed a maturity beyond his 20 years that gives Toyota's post-Ogier era a far brighter complexion
How WRC's new Safari adventure ended with a familiar tale
The World Rally Championship’s delayed return to the Safari Rally was always set throw up some surprises, but aside from a spirited showing by Thierry Neuville it became another painful event for Hyundai in 2021. Once again it was Sebastien Ogier who took full advantage as he completed a stunning comeback drive
Remembering Colin McRae’s final WRC win
The Safari Rally returns to the World Rally Championship this weekend for the first time since 2002 - when crowd favourite Colin McRae set aside the maximum attack style for which he was renowned to deliver a textbook third win
How Hyundai's broken record gave Toyota a special Sardinia 1-2
For the second WRC gravel rally in a row, a promising Friday for Hyundai turned into desolation as Toyota gratefully picked up the pieces. This time it was championship leader Sebastien Ogier who took full advantage after Ott Tanak and Dani Sordo retired to score a memorable victory, having swept the road on the first two days
How Hyundai's latest self-destruction handed Evans Portugal victory
At one point Hyundai held the top three positions in Portugal, but when trouble struck the Korean marque's two leading chargers, a grateful Elfyn Evans was on hand to see off Hyundai third man Dani Sordo and become the third different winner in four rallies
Why the success of AVB's WRC debut won't be defined on the stages
Three years after a Dakar Rally crash resulted in him being airlifted to hospital, Andre Villas-Boas is preparing to make his debut on his home round of the World Rally Championship later this month. His goals for the event are modest, but the same cannot be said for the charities he plans to promote where his true impact could be felt
Why there's no easy fix for Hyundai's operational Achilles Heel
Hyundai Motorsport boss Andrea Adamo was vocal in his criticism of his team's tyre choices on Rally Croatia and declared that he "had better move my ass and solve it". Doing so will be vital to getting Hyundai's 2021 WRC title hopes back on track, but finding the root of the problem won't be the work of a moment
How Ogier held on after a shock bump in the road to triumph in Croatia
Sebastien Ogier was already in an incredibly tight fight at Rally Croatia before a surprise collision with public road traffic at the start of the final day. But the defending champion held his nerve to take a narrow victory and create further World Rally Championship history
