Adrien Fourmaux has become the latest driver to switch co-drivers during the 2021 World Rally Championship season, parting ways with long-term partner Renaud Jamoul.
Jamoul has sat with Fourmaux since 2019 when he stepped up to WRC2 in a privately-run Ford Fiesta R5. Since then, the pairing have soared, earning an M-Sport WRC2 drive in 2020 that has led to a part-time campaign in a World Rally Car this year.
They have recorded a best finish of fifth overall together, on debut in Croatia and on Safari Rally Kenya where they also won their first ever WRC stage.
Fourmaux announced the split on Wednesday on social media, but there is no news yet as to who will replace Jamoul in the Fiesta WRC.
“After almost three years of partnership, Renaud and I have gone our separate ways,” said Fourmaux.
“The story began at a motorway service area and finished after the Acropolis in the WRC. What a journey we’ve been on together.
“Thank you for being with me for my international debut and accepting the co-driver role for the young, fiery driver I was. Thank you for these moments.
“From the first WRC point to the first fastest stage time, passing by the ERC victory on the Canarias, but also all the laughs and the “Jamoulaux” omelettes each race morning.
“I wish you all the best for your future. I’m convinced that you will achieve great things.
“Thanks Renaud!”
Fourmaux’s change is just the latest in a WRC season that has been dominated by co-driver moves.
Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul separated on the eve of the season, promoting Martijn Wydaeghe to the seat at the very last minute.
Fourmaux’s M-Sport team-mate Gus Greensmith traded Elliott Edmondson for Chris Patterson, his other team-mate Teemu Suninen began the season with Mikko Markkula instead of Toyota bound Jarmo Lehtinen and Pierre-Louis Loubet swapped Vincent Landais for Florian Haut-Labourdette.
Photo: Hyundai Motorsport
Dani Sordo meanwhile has used three co-drivers so far in 2021 with Carlos del Barrio doing the Monte Carlo Rally before Borja Rozada replaced him, only for that partnership not to click and resulting in Cándido Carrera linking up with Sordo.
There have been temporary changes too, with Seb Marshall stepping in to navigate Oliver Solberg’s World Rally Car debut on Arctic Rally Finland with a false positive COVID-19 test ruling Aaraon Johnston out.
Greensmith used Stuart Loudon on Rally Italy with Patterson unavailable and Takamoto Katsuta has been competing with Keaton Williams of late after Dan Barritt was injured over a compression in Estonia.
WRC refugee Andreas Mikkelsen has also been involved in the merry-go-round, splitting with Ola Fløene in July and bringing in Edmondson for the Acropolis Rally who started the year as Greensmith’s navigator.
