Johnston hopes for positive result on Toyota debut

THIS weekend signals a massive step forward for Fintona co-driver, Aaron Johnston and his Japanese pilot, Takamoto Katsuta, who will compete for the first time for the full works Toyota Gazoo Racing squad at Rally Sweden.

Last season, the duo represented the company’s WRC Challenge Programme, but after finishing an impressive fifth overall, they were promoted to share the factory team’s third car with Sebastien Ogier, who won last time out in Monte Carlo where Johnston and Katsuta claimed sixth.

The Frenchman, who has won eight WRC driver’s titles, will sit out round two in Sweden this coming weekend, paving the way for Johnston to make his ‘first team’ debut for Toyota alongside Katsuta.

And while he admits there is a little added pressure that comes with the responsibility of earning points towards Toyota’s bid to retain the manufacturer’s crown, Johnston admits that they will still be aiming high in the Arctic Circle.

“Every time we go out we want to be targeting top three but this time we have to remember that we will be the third car for the manufacturer, so it is critically important that we bring the car to the finish and score some good points.” he explained.

“That’s the most important job for us at the weekend but it’s an event for us that Taka is really strong on. We finished fourth there last year, so the desire is there and I think the speed will be there to fight for the podium.

“But whether we can take the absolute risks that you need to if you get involved in a fight is yet to be decided. But hopefully we’ll be there or there abouts.

“But with it being our first event in the third car, it’s very important that we do a job for the team first and then we can think about our own goals as and when.”

Johnston and Katsuta can go into Sweden with confidence after a largely impressive performance at the opening round in Monte Carlo last month.

The pair started on the front foot, and showed a fast pace throughout only for a mechanical issue on stage two and then again on the final Power Stage leaving them just outside the top five.

“We were fourth on the first stage and quite comfortable and feeling relaxed in the car,” Johnston observed. “But on the next stage we dropped that 45 seconds with the technical issue, which is part of the game but from then on it was difficult to climb up the leaderboard unless someone else had struck problems.

“Generally speaking, it was a dry, tarmac rally, it wasn’t really anything like what you expect from Monte or what you think Monte should be.

“Overall, it was enjoyable and I think we definitely could have been in that top five or even the top four if we hadn’t had the couple of wee niggly issues that dropped us down.

“But we’re happy at the finish and we’re two places higher than we were last year, so that’s progress.”