Rally Japan: Former WRC2 Champion Emil Lindholm returns to scene of his biggest success with Škoda

› Four years ago at the Japanese round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Emil Lindholm secured the WRC2 title at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia.
› This time around, the experienced driver from Finland shares a Toksport WRT-run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with Brazilian navigator Gabriel Morales.
› On the tarmac stages in the Aichi and Gifu prefectures, local Škoda crew Osamu Fukunaga/Misako Saida goes head-to-head with international competitors.

Mladá Boleslav (CZE), 27 May 2026 – Tarmac once more: Rally Japan (28–31 May 2026) will be the final tarmac event of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship. The only Asian fixture in the series has been brought forward in the calendar, changing from November to May as the new seventh round of the season. Among the favourites for WRC2 victory are the Finnish-Brazilian Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew of Emil Lindholm/Gabriel Morales.

Emil Lindholm is one of the most successful rally drivers at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia. One of the career highlights for the 29-year-old from Finland: celebrating the WRC2 title on the podium of Rally Japan, after finishing the finale of the 2022 season third in the category at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo.

Following a difficult start to his 2026 campaign, Emil Lindholm returns to Rally Japan with high hopes. “I love the small and winding tarmac roads, the setup of my Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 fits this kind of stages very well. I am very optimistic that I can deliver a good result,” he says. Emil Lindholm is competing again for Toksport WRT, with Brazilian co-driver Gabriel Morales providing the pace notes.

None of the top drivers of the WRC2 overall classification have chosen Rally Japan as one of their points-scoring events. But local Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Osamu Fukunaga and navigator Misako Saida won’t miss the opportunity, to take on the international competitors during their home event. Their main focus, however, is the WRC Masters Cup classification, which is reserved for competitors aged 50 and over. The Japanese duo came third in this category two years ago.

Since returning to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2022, Rally Japan has reaffirmed its reputation as a unique and challenging event. Based in the Aichi and Gifu prefectures, its narrow, twisty stages are often lined by barriers, drop-offs or dense trees. These roads demand an extremely precise driving style, even though the usual wet leaves shouldn’t be a problem at the event’s new date.

The field of WRC2 competitors will face 20 special stages, covering a total distance of 302.82 kilometres. The service park is based in the stadium of the city of Toyota. The ceremonial start kicks off the event on Thursday evening (28 May). On Friday, six stages over 108.54 kilometres are scheduled. Saturday is the longest day of the rally with eight stages covering 120.22 kilometres. The  finale (31 May) offers six more stages, totalling 74.06 kilometres. The winners will be celebrated on the podium around 3:45 pm local time (8:45 am CEST).

Did you know, that…

...the current format of Rally Japan was established in 2022, with the service park located in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture — a 300-kilometre road trip west of Tokyo.

…the rally is not being held in late autumn for the first time, but has moved to the end of May, which is the start of summer in Japan.

…Rally Japan was part of the FIA World Rally Championship from 2004 to 2010, albeit held on gravel stages in the north of the country.

…the fans in Japan are especially enthusiastic, with tens of thousands of spectators lining the road sections between the stages.

Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 6 of 14 events)
1 Yohan Rossel (FRA), Lancia, 52 points
2 Roope Korhonen (FIN), Toyota, 52 points
3 Léo Rossel (FRA), Citroën, 52 points
4 Teemu Suninen (FIN), Toyota, 42 points
5 Roberto Daprà (ITA), Škoda, 37 points

Standings WRC2/Teams (after 6 of 14 events)
1 Lancia Corse HF, Lancia, 163 points
2 Toksport WRT, Škoda, 126 points
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, Ford, 45 points

2026 FIA World Rally Championship

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