Bonato was speaking at the completion of the season-deciding Rally Silesia in October, which he contested after recovering from serious injury three months ahead of schedule.
The Frenchman had been told by doctors that he would face six months out of action after he fractured one vertebra in his back and two vertebrae in his neck in a crash on the French championship-counting Rallye Vosges - Grand-Est on 16 June.
But such was the pace of his recovery that the 41-year-old was back competing again in early September when he finished a fine third overall on the French championship-counting Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine.
“We are very happy to come back after three months only [because] at the beginning it was for six,” Bonato said after he finished sixth on Rally Silesia in the Trajectus Motorsport Citroën C3 Rally2 he shares with co-driver Benjamin Boulloud. “For sure it was a bit early [to come back] because on the first day it was a bit painful when I had a big impact on the road, that was very painful during the loop. But after the physiotherapist [saw me] it was better.”
Michelin-equipped Bonato won Rally Islas Canarias in May but plans to contest Rally di Roma Capitale in July were shelved due to his injuries. But his top-six finish in Poland ensured an eighth-place finish in the final ERC standings.
Asked if he’ll be back for more ERC action in 2025, Bonato said: “I don’t know yet. I really want to do more ERC but it’s difficult to find a programme. I would like to.”
Bonato finished the 2024 season by winning Rallye du Var, the final round of the French championship, to secure the runner-up spot in the title table to first-time champion Léo Rossel. Bonato had been chasing a sixth French Tarmac crown prior to his accident. He then won Rallye National des 1000 Km de la Réunion, which he was contesting in partnership with main sponsor Igol.
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