27/05/2026
Behind the scenes with Almost Bond Racing π
What is the navigator's role?
"I make the driver look good! Literally β with his harness on, helmet on, Jason cannot see where he's going, especially when dropping off rocks or climbing up. The cones are normally hidden behind obstacles too. The driver trusts us completely. We are critical to the whole process. I'm Jason's eyes."
How do you and Jason divide responsibility?
"It's just teamwork. Touch wood β this competition we had no breakdowns. No broken axles, diffs, or anything to stop us competing. But in the past, if you break something, it's all hands on deck. We've got competition passes so only certain people can work on the cars, but when all hands are needed, everyone jumps in."
What's the most stressful part of the job on a gnarly obstacle?
"Honestly, I don't usually get stressed on the obstacle β the adrenaline rush hits when you're putting the helmet on and making sure everything's right. The worst moment this event was when the comms wouldn't pair at the track. They'd paired perfectly back at camp, then just stopped working. When technology fails you β that's when the stress factor goes through the roof."
Thanks for saving the day! π
How do you keep calm and communicate when things are literally going sideways?
"We've written a reminder on the roof. After running through the pre-race checklist β GoPros on, safety glasses, gloves, comms, helmets β the last item is: have fun. That's the one that calms everything down. It's easy to get frustrated when the track is pushing you, but communication is key. You've gotta keep your heads in the game."
What's the physical experience like as a navigator?
"The adrenaline is everything. You do hurt yourself sometimes, but when you step on a rock or a rock shifts under the car, the whole situation can change massively. Buggies climb onto a rock you think is solid, it moves, and suddenly everything's different."
Trent rolled his ankle on the Night Stage π¬