Nutahara and Takuma Kamada will both be eager to do well though on what is their home event, although the latter has yet to score: "This is the first time I've competed in the PCWRC since the second round, Rally Mexico," Nutahara told the official Mitsubishi website, "During that time I’ve been aiming to achieve my eighth win on the All Japan Rally Championship. In July I competed in Rally Hokkaido, the third round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and also a round of the all Japan Rally Championship. Right now, I rank top in the series. Since Hokkaido is my home ground, I intend to give it all I have to gain victory."
For the record, the last round of the WRC which included the PCWRC was in Greece prior to the long summer break.
Other significant entries:
A 90-strong field is scheduled to start the Rally Japan, although only 11 will be in World Rally Cars.
Xavier Pons was due to contest it - however, following his off in Finland his car was too badly damaged.
“We have had long discussions with Xevi and we took two things into account,” explained Kronos boss, Marc van Dalen, when asked about why Pons will not be in action. “First: rebuilding his car for Japan was extremely difficult. Back in Naninne on Wednesday morning, it had to be loaded in the airfreight on Wednesday night! We could have also organised to finish it in Japan but the timing was really tight. Also we have noticed that Xevi isn’t currently performing at his normal level. He lacks confidence and it’s not by competing on the tricky and narrow Japanese special stages that he would have improved that.”
