A double puncture on the Friday afternoon, meaning his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 had to be coaxed with no spares through the remaining stages before service, cost more time. But then team-mates Sébastien Ogier, Oliver Solberg and Elfyn Evans all went out on Saturday, and Sami Pajari’s exploding tyre caused the Finn a mid-stage stop for repairs. The Hyundai challenge wilted thanks to overheating caused by the mud – but while Thierry Neuville went out, Adrien Fourmaux pressed on to finish just 27.4sec adrift of the coasting Katsuta, with the recovering Pajari a distant third.
After the final stage of his 94th WRC start, this time there was no need for any broadcast apologies. Sure, there was saltiness again, but it was from Katsuta’s tears. “I don’t know what to say,” he blabbed. “Aaron worked very hard with me, and the Toyota team always believed in me, even when I failed.”
For a driver who did a reverse Rovanperä – Katsuta was a single-seater racing ace in his youth – this was glorious vindication.
Driver briefing notes
Jag’s electric charge and an F2 Bulgarian live wire
● There was a second consecutive Formula E victory for António Félix da Costa at the old Spanish Grand Prix circuit of Jarama. The Portuguese joined Jaguar for this season and led home team-mate Mitch Evans, who was furious about the imposition of team orders. Porsche’s series leader Pascal Wehrlein was third.
● It was three winners from the first three races of the IndyCar season. Reigning and four-time champion Álex Palou kicked things off in St Petersburg, 2017/’19 king Josef Newgarden triumphed on the Phoenix oval, and Kyle Kirkwood overhauled Palou for victory in the inaugural Arlington street race.
● A Bulgarian in Formula 1? It could happen… Red Bull Junior Nikola Tsolov, above, who hails from 40 miles out of Sofia, leads the F2 chase after victory with Campos Racing in the opening round supporting the Australian GP over Brazilian Ferrari protégé and reigning F3 champion Rafael Câmara.