Bonato was told by doctors that he would face six months on the sidelines after he fractured three vertebrae – one in his back and two in his neck – in a crash on the French championship-counting Rallye Vosges - Grand-Est on 16 June.
But such has been the pace of his recovery that the 41-year-old from France was back competing again on Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine on 6 September, finishing a fine third overall aboard his Trajectus Motorsport Citroën C3 Rally2.
He then went one better on Rallye Coeur de France last weekend by placing runner-up in the final order.
The ERC season-deciding Rally Silesia is next from 11 - 13 October and Bonato can’t wait for the all-Tarmac event to begin, despite conceding that he’s “not completely” recovered.
“I’m getting better and better,” Bonato said. “For sure the first event in France in early September was a bit early for me but the doctors said it was possible to start again after three months. At the beginning they said it would be six months off but after three months I start to move a bit and they say it’s possible to start again, but slowly. I’ve done two events in France and now it’s Poland so let’s see.”
He continued: “It was quite good with my injuries [on the last two rallies]. It was really nice and the results were perfect. We are in the fight for the French title again, for the sixth time, with two events to go. Normally Léo Rossel can win the championship because he is very fast. But you never know what can happen on these last two events, they’re very difficult.”
Bonato, whose co-driver Benjamin Boulloud was uninjured during their Rallye Vosges - Grand-Est crash, was victorious on his last ERC appearance, May’s Rally Islas Canarias. Asked if he can make it two ERC wins in 2024, the Michelin-equipped driver said: “I don’t know. This rally is completely new for most of the drivers so at the start we are all the same. But there are some fast local drivers and [Miko] Marczyk will be very fast and difficult to catch because he’s done this rally before.
“I’m still watching the videos but I think the rally is very fast and bumpy as well. The videos were taken with a very blue sky and I don’t know how will be the weather [next week] actually. I’ve heard there has been a lot of rain in the last month. I think it will be a like a bumpy Barum Rally than Canarias. But for sure when you are on a new rally, especially for everybody, it’s very nice.”
Estonia
Poland
Turkey