Lorenzo Bertelli withdraws from Rally Sweden

The record of 12 Rally1 at the start of a round of the WRC will ultimately not be equaled. This Monday, three days before the start of the Rally of Sweden (February 13-16), Lorenzo Bertelli announced that he was withdrawing. The Italian was due to play the Scandinavian round on a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 private, prepared by the Japanese team, as was the case in 2023 and 2024. However, the son of Miuccia Bianchi Prada, director of the brand of the same name, was forced to throw in the towel for professional reasons. A scenario that had already happened to him in 2018 and 2022.

“Unfortunately, Simone and I will not be participating in the WRC Rally Sweden this week, he shared on his social networks. Everything was ready for what is always one of our favourite rallies of the season, but unforeseen work commitments came up. We thank the Toyota Gazoo Racing team for working so hard to prepare the event and apologise to all the fans who were eager to cheer us on through the snowy forests of Sweden. We look forward to another opportunity to compete in another event later in the season.”

🇬🇧 Regrettably, Simone and I will not be participating in WRC Rally Sweden this week. Everything was set for what is always one of our favorite rallies of the season, but unforeseen work commitments have come up. Thank you to Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris Rally1 Team for working so… pic.twitter.com/kHxBepGoSi

— Lorenzo Bertelli (@fuckmatie37) February 10, 2025

There will therefore only be 11 Rally1s at the start of the Rally Sweden, this Thursday, in Umea. In addition to the nine regular drivers for the season, Martins Sesks and Jourdain Serderidis will complete the field aboard their Ford Pumas from M-Sport.

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