World Rally Championship privateer Lorenzo Bertelli has announced he will drive a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on next month’s Rally Sweden.
Bertelli has driven top-line M-Sport machinery since 2015, including last year where he made one WRC appearance in New Zealand with a Puma Rally1, but has become the first driver to rent a Yaris Rally1 from Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Toyota has a fourth Yaris available for hire for half the WRC season on the rounds that Sébastien Ogier is absent and Takamoto Katsuta is promoted to score manufacturer points for the marque.
Gus Greensmith had considered taking the car this season before opting to drive a Toksport Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in WRC2 in 2023, making Bertelli the first driver to hire a Yaris.
“Next month we will take part in Rally Sweden with Toyota in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car,” Bertelli announced.
“Can’t wait for this new adventure on my favorite WRC rally of the season.”
Bertelli’s best finish in Sweden is 18th overall and sixth in WRC2 in a Ford Fiesta R5.
He was supposed to contest last year’s event though before a schedule clash with Milan Fashion Week forced him to abandon his rally plans.
Bertelli’s presence in the Yaris confirms the expectation that Ogier will not appear in Sweden.
The full Rally Sweden entry list will be published soon after the entry for round one, the Monte Carlo Rally, which will be released on Monday.
