M-Sport Ford announced today that James Fulton will be the new navigator of Craig Breen for Rally Japan and next season after Paul Nagle's retirement.
Paul Nagle announced a week ago that he will retire from World Rally Championship at the end of next week's Rally Spain with the intention of giving time to Craig Breen's new co-driver ahead of the start of the new season.
James Fulton competed in ERC and WRC3 with Callum Devine and Josh McErlean respectively in 2021 while he remained alongside the last one this year as both of them participated in WRC2 class. However, at the same time, Fulton took part in Breen's pre-event test with Ford Puma Rally1 and Nagle will be in Japan to help the first one with the pacenotes.
"Paul and I had been talking about this for a while, and I can completely understand his thinking", Breen said.
"He’s been competing at the highest level for a long while and he wants more time with his family.
"But it’s still going to be strange without him.
"I have every confidence in James.
"He has good experience; he’s been on the most recent tests with us and he’s going to be in the car for Japan - that gives him good experience ahead of next season.
"Paul will also be joining us in Japan, just to settle everything in and give James plenty of reassurance.
"He’s done the best part of two years in the World Rally Championship, but it’s still going to be a step for him - but I’m sure he’s got it covered.
"He’s watched so many of the onboards and has seen so many stages that way, it already feels like he’s been sitting alongside me for a while".
Finally, Fulton stated about this new opportunity: "I don’t have a huge amount to say other than that I am delighted to get the opportunity, it’s something that I have been aiming towards for a while now, naturally, like any co-driver to get to the top level.
"I have been working with Craig for quite a while now and I have done a couple of tests in the Puma so I am really looking forward to developing the relationship with him and the car as well as with the team.
"I am looking forward to getting stuck into it and doing the best possible job".
Photo Credits: M-Sport
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