Johnston’s relishing new challenges after first test

THE new hybrid Rally1 cars being used from the start of the 2022 World Rally Championship will bring a host of new challenges for drivers and co-drivers and Fintona’s Aaron Johnston is looking forward to the task that lies ahead.

Alongside Takamoto Katsuta, the 26-year-old navigator will compete in the new Toyota Yaris GR Hybrid WRC/Rally 1 machine in all 13 rounds of the championship as the sole members of the new Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team Next Generation.

The last two words of that team name are quite apt given the new direction the WRC will take from the start of Rally Monte Carlo and beyond as they leave behind purely petrol-based power.

The move into hybrid technology will bring its own issues, with the most obvious being added weight, which will mean the crews will have to adapt their approach. They will also have to keep in mind some new rules that will come into force at the opening round regarding the use of the new hybrid systems.

“The new car is good, different but it’s good,” he observed after a first test alongside his Japanese colleague in France last week.

“It’s going to take a bit of time to get used to and whoever adapts to it the fastest will have a major advantage.

“It’s a different driving style and to make the batteries work for you is going to be the biggest job.”

And while that will take time for all to get to grips with completely, Johnston believes it should add to a more competitive season with everyone starting on a blank canvas.

“It’s going to be a big challenge because it completely changes the game,” he added.

“Yes, experience of the rallies still matters, but everybody is going in essentially completely blind because it doesn’t matter how many rallies you have done, no-one has driven these in anger yet.

“But everything went well in our test, there was no drama and we’re preparing the best as we can before Monte.”