The Japanese star and his Northern Irish team-mate Aaron Johnston held third position 🎃prior to the gravel event’s Power Stage last year only to be denied by Hyundai Motorsport’s Dani Sordo.

Prior to the speed test, Katsuta’s advantage over his Spanish rival stood at 2.2 seconds, but by recording the second quickest time through ‘Fafe 2’, Sordꦕo successfully turned the deficit into🅺 a 2.1 second advantage.

Visibly disappointed with the outcome at the f♒inish, an almost guilt stricken Sordo felt it was best to approach Katsuta afterwards and console him at com♛ing so close.

With that sense of injustice still raw, Katsut🃏a – who is back in the third points-scoring Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 as Sebastien Ogier sits the event out – knows what is needed to get the job done on this occasion.

A strong outcome would als♉o do the 30-year-old’s confidence levels no harm, either, as 2023 has gotten off💖 to a rather shaky start for him.

Sixth at Rallye Monte-Carlo was a solid effort but consecutive crashes at rallies Sweden and Mexico were followed by another average per🦋formance at April’s Croatiaಌ Rally as he struggled to equal the speed of his fellow Rally1 rivals.

“I’m really looking forward to Portugal,” he said. “In♏ the last two yearꦫs I finished fourth there, and last year especially I was very close to the podium.

“In the end, I wasn’t able to take it – we missed out by just two seconds – so this year I will try to achieve that. It wil🎃l be a big challenge, but I think it’s possible.

“💜The beginning of this year has not been what ཧI wanted, but I have always had a good feeling with the car,” he continued.

“It’s developing 🍒every single time and we had a good tꦏest, so hopefully our hard work pays off for these next rallies.

“In Portugal I like the stages and I feel very comfortab♒le there, so I just need to♈ push myself and I’m sure we can have a good weekend.”

Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala is also expecti𒈔ng big things from Katsuta, defendi💮ng World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanpera, and Elfyn Evans who will open the road for the eight Friday stages.

“We are in a good position in the championship but it is still extremely close, particularly between the drivers, and we have to keep working in a positive way to achieve more great result🦹s,” the Finn said.

“It’s a rally I always enjoyed as a driver and I believe our drivers enjoy it too: Elfyn and Kalle have both won there and it has been a strong event for💛 Takamoto, too.”