Tyrone-born co-driver Aaron Johnston played his part as Takamoto Katsuta clinched a maiden win in the World Rally Championship at the Safari Rally Kenya on Sunday.
Japanese driver Katsuta claimed victory at the wheel of the GR Yaris Rally1 alongside Omagh native Johnston.
Katsuta, in his 94th start, becomes the first Japanese driver to win a WRC event since Kenjiro Shinozuka at the Ivory Coast Rally in 1992.
It wasn't the first time Katsuta and Johnston had achieved a podium finish in Kenya, having done so in 2022 and 2024.
"It's hard to describe how I felt when I crossed the finish line: it was just crazy. There have been so many difficult moments and these memories all went through my head," said Katsuta.
"It hasn't been easy but finally we are here."
A day they will never forget ❤️#WRC | #SafariRallyKenya 🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/Qq7RJ4IUF0
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) March 15, 2026
They finished 27.4 seconds ahead of France's Adrien Formaux, while Finland's Sami Pajari was third.
Katsuta and Johnston assumed the lead of the event after the 14th stage on Saturday and did not look back over the remaining stages on route to victory.
But before that, a double puncture on Friday left the Japanese in seventh position. However, a dramatic and muddy Saturday took out team-mates and frontrunners Solberg, Sebastien Ogier and championship leader Elfyn Evans and allowed him to move back up through the field.
He was one minute 25.5 seconds clear of Fourmaux on Saturday night, enough of a lead to play it safer through the final four stages.
Solberg, Ogier and Evans all restarted on Sunday and each took a stage win before Solberg won the final Power Stage for five bonus points.
"The whole team is very happy to see Takamoto and Aaron (Johnston) win this rally. They have been close so many times and they really deserve this," said team boss Juha Kankkunen.
"This was the toughest Safari we've seen since it came back to the calendar, and it was a rollercoaster weekend for us.
"To have three cars retire yesterday was quite a disaster but Oliver, Seb and Elfyn all pushed hard and did well today to get maximum Sunday points for the team."
Fermanagh's Jon Armstrong and his co-driver Shane Byrne finished 15th overall, while Derry native Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy had to withdraw after 16 stages due to engine issues.
Toyota's Evans retains the drivers' championship lead with 66 points after finishing 13th.
Additional reporting: Reuters
