Takamoto Katsuta has thanked James Fulton for the “amazing job” he did deputizing for Aaron Johnston at last week’s Rally Chile.
Johnston was ruled out of the 12th round of the World Rally Championship after fracturing his collarbone in an accident alongside Katsuta at Rally del Paraguay.
Fulton, who regularly sits beside Toyota Challenge Program driver Yuki Yamamoto, received the call-up to replace his “good mate” Johnston for the event, with Finn Topi Luhtinen taking Fulton’s seat in Yamamoto’s GR Yaris Rally2.
Katsuta and Fulton’s rally didn’t go to plan, with a mistake and retirement from day one on the very first stage. But Katsuta was nevertheless impressed with the job Fulton did.
He had previously co-driven at Rally1 level twice before, partnering Craig Breen at Rally Japan 2022 (M-Sport) and Rally Sweden 2023 (Hyundai) where they finished second.
Katsuta and Fulton finished 36th after missing all but four of Friday's miles
“The co-driver is a very, very big and important point, topic for rallying, so that’s never easy [to have someone new],” Katsuta told DirtFish.
“But honestly, James has done such an amazing job. I mean, I have no doubt that he can jump in straight away. It was such a short time we decided [he would join me] last week, but he prepared everything perfectly and everything is so great and I’m very, very impressed how he managed this situation.
“He’s really, really good. Reading: no problem. Organizing: no problem. I had no worries about anything.”
Johnston is set to return to Katsuta’s GR Yaris Rally1 for Rally Italy Sardinia in two weeks’ time. The pair will start sixth on the road after dropping two places in the championship in Chile.
“It’s going to be an advantage for the road cleaning and things, I will be sixth on the road,” Katsuta said, “so for sure there will be a good opportunity.
“Hopefully it’s not raining, but everything else I just need to keep focused and keep going.”
