Katsuta has displayed blistering pace across the tricky asphalt stages at his home event, winning seven of the 16 tests to date.
The Japanese driver’s pace would have put him firmly in the victory battle had he not damaged his GR Yaris’ radiator after colliding with trees in stage two on Friday.
Katsuta was fastest on the splits in that stage before he hit a patch of standing water that also sent Hyundai’s Dani Sordo and M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux off the road and into retirement.
Katsuta quickly bounced back from the disappointment to win three stages on Friday before going on to claim four of Saturday’s eight stages, climbing from ninth to sixth overall.
“He has had really good speed - I know there is potential and I think now he is really getting all of that potential, which also gives me encouragement looking towards 2024,” Latvala told Autosport.
“If he can maintain similar work that he has done in the second half of the season, I think he could be in a position to fight for podiums for almost every rally. I think that is the next step that needs to be taken.”
Source: Autosport