James Fulton, an experienced Irish co-driver, recently made an unexpected debut in the co-driver's seat of Takamoto Katsuta's Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 at Rally Chile. The opportunity arose after Aaron Johnston suffered a broken collarbone in a heavy crash on the final day of Rally Paraguay. The injury had not healed sufficiently for him to be fit for the second South American round.
Fulton, who usually co-drives for Yuki Yamamoto in WRC2, was called in as his replacement. The man who has previously called the notes for the likes of Craig Breen, Kris Meeke and Josh McErlean admitted that this was his first outing in Toyota's Rally1 car. However, the rally got off to a very disappointing start when the pair went off on the opening special stage.
Nevertheless, they bounced back and continued the rally on Saturday and Sunday, eventually collecting three WRC points. Fulton enjoyed the experience. “Yeah, I enjoyed it. Obviously Friday was tough, but apart from that, it’s been nice. I really enjoyed working with Taka and the team and was happy to fill in for Aaron,” Fulton said after the rally.
Fulton also mentioned that he found a nice rhythm in the car and was happy to push on the Power Stage. “Obviously, with the Rally3 car in front of us, the lines were not so nice. We did the best we could, I think, on the Power Stage, but overall I enjoyed the weekend. A big thanks to the team and everyone involved.”
There was a thrilling moment at the end of the Power Stage, where Katsuta launched the longest leap of the day. Fulton laughed that he had been able to sample the so-called “Taka Airlines”. “Now I know how Aaron feels all the time,” Fulton grinned. “If the co-driver tells the driver to slow down and says no, then the driver has to go slower, and that’s not good either. Only joking, I enjoyed it. Everything went well.”
Johnston is expected to return to the co-driver’s seat for the next rally, Rally Sardinia, which takes place at the beginning of October. “Hopefully, yeah. I’m just happy I was able to fill in for him. He’s one of my best mates. He helped all weekend on the phone and with everything else. I’m just happy I was able to help the team,” Fulton said.
Fulton's experience is not just a story of a successful stand-in, but also highlights the depth and solidarity of the rally community. Despite a difficult start, teamwork and quick adaptation were key. This story also underlines how challenging racing in Chile is, with demanding stages and extreme jumps. Fulton proved that with experience and a positive attitude, a co-driver can overcome unexpected situations. Now, focus shifts to Johnston's recovery and preparations for Rally Sardinia, where he hopes to return alongside Katsuta.
Baca Juga
Adrien Fourmaux frustrasi usai finis ketiga di WRC Chile. Pembalap Hyundai itu merasa pace mampu lebih baik, namun masalah ban jadi penghalang.
Jon Armstrong alami roll di Rally Chile, memperpanjang kesulitannya di WRC. Pembalap M-Sport Ford itu mengakui mobilnya tidak selalu mudah dikendalikan.
Robert Virves juara WRC2 Challenger usai finis kedua di Chile. Kini tinggal finis kelima di Sardinia untuk kunci gelar WRC2, meski Teemu Suninen masih mengintai.
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