TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) held the final selection for the fifth class of the TGR WRC Challenge Program, which aims to discover and develop Japanese drivers capable of competing in the WRC, in Finland from December 5th to 11th.
As a result of the selection, Daiya Minowa and Zeal Jones will join the program as part of the fifth class of drivers starting in 2026.
The 2025 selection process began with the first and second rounds held at Koda Circuit (Aichi Prefecture) in late September. Based on evaluations by instructors who came to Japan from Finland, five of 100 applicants passed the second round.
For the final selection, Nao Otake, the season champion of the MORIZO Challenge Cup (MCC), joined the candidates, who then participated in a training camp in Lapland, in northern Finland.
The week-long schedule began with a physical test, followed by five days of ice driving tests in various vehicles. Three instructors, Mikko Hirvonen, Jouni Ampuja, and Janne Ferm, rode alongside each candidate, providing feedback as they drove.
Candidates who had previously been in the final selection process demonstrated growth by overcoming challenges from their previous runs, while candidates with little experience driving on snow or ice showed remarkable growth in their new environment.
All candidates demonstrated extremely high potential. The instructors deemed the group’s overall level extremely high and selected Daiya Minowa and Zeal Jones, who showed particularly outstanding performances, as members of the fifth class.
Already enjoying success in the drift category, 16-year-old Daiya Minowa is embarking on a new challenge by switching his focus to rallying. Meanwhile, Zeal Jones, whose mother is Japanese and father is a New Zealander, began rallying in New Zealand before taking on the challenge of competing in Japan this year through his participation in the MORIZO Challenge Cup, further honing his skills.
Reflecting on his successful second attempt at the selection process, Jones admitted the experience was both rewarding and relieving.
“I’m very happy and relieved to have been accepted into the program I’ve been aiming for,” Jones said. “This year was my second attempt, so I was able to relax and enjoy the selection process. Last year, I pushed too hard, but this time, I was patient and drove clean and smooth. This program is a great opportunity for me to take the next step, but it’s only the first step towards my goal of becoming a WRC champion, so I’ll keep working hard towards my ultimate goal.”
The pair will relocate to Finland early next year to begin an intensive training program. The training will cover driving, pace notes, and fitness, with the goal of competing in European Rally4 events around the summer.
TGR-WRT includes first-year driver Takamoto Katsuta, who is already competing full-time in the WRC in a GR YARIS Rally1; second-year driver Yuki Yamamoto, who is scheduled to compete full-time in WRC events in Rally2 in 2026; Shotaro Goto and Takumi Matsushita, who will move up to Rally2 in 2026 and compete mainly in European rallies; and fourth-year drivers Rio Ogata and Kanta Yanagikuda, who will move up to Rally3.
The new drivers are expected to learn a lot by following in their predecessors’ footsteps.
Header Image: TGR
