Busy Bonato has ERC success in mind

The two-time ERC event winner is contesting Rallye Coeur de France in his homeland this weekend before he switches focus to Nyíregyháza, host city of the season finale.  

A social media post from Bonato said he and co-driver Benjamin Boulloud will “try to get closer to a fifth national crown but also to shine at European level as during their victory in the Canaries in early May”.  

Bonato, who drives a Michelin-equipped Citroën C3 Rally2, has two Rally Hungary appearances to call upon. He clocked six top-three stage times on the event two years ago but was limited to eighth in the overall classification due to a damaged tyre on the second stage of the event.

The 40-year-old will start Rally Hungary eager to make up for his Rally di Roma Capitale disappointment when tyre damage late in the event ruled out a seemingly certain podium finish.  

At the time, Bonato said: “That’s life [what happened] but it was a good rally for us, definitely, because we had a good speed. We fought with the Italian guys here and that’s not easy at all when you are only here for the third time. It was a good fight for sure, they are fast and we can be proud. The podium wasn’t far away.”