Florian Bernardi returns to the French Gravel Rally Championship

Just hours before the publication of the list of participants Rally Castine Terre d'Occitanie, the first round of the French Gravel Rally Championship, will see another renowned driver announced this Thursday evening by Florian Bernardi. The former winner of the European Clio R3T (2018), who competed in last year's Trophy... Alpine Elf Rallye will make its full-time return aboard the Toyota The GR Yaris Rally2 from the Gazoo Racing France team, with Christopher Guieu as co-driver, will be present from the opening round of the season, marking the first time a Toyota has competed in a full season in France. The GR Yaris Rally2's last appearances in the French Gravel Rally Championship resulted in strong performances, with Hugo Louvel winning the Rallye Terre de Lozère in 2024 and Tom Pellerey winning the Rallye Terre de Vaucluse in 2025. The car also secured its first CFR victory at the 2025 Rallye du Touquet, thanks to Stéphane Lefebvre. However, despite the Japanese car's international dominance, the GR Yaris Rally2 has rarely competed in France.

Florian Bernardi, the icing on the cake

So here's more good news and confirmation: the 2026 French Gravel Rally Championship will undoubtedly be a vintage year, as we've seen in recent days with the announcements of the participating crews' sporting programs. For Florian Bernardi, it will also mark a return to competition. After going off the road at the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine last September, the Vaucluse native was forced to prematurely end his season, even though he was able to participate a few weeks later in his home rally at Sarrians (finishing 2nd). His last appearance in the French Gravel Rally Championship dates back to 2023 at the wheel of a Citroën C3 Rally2 (Causses, Castine, and Aléria rallies), where he achieved two consecutive podium finishes at the Rallye Terre de Vaucluse (3rd in 2021 and 2022). A former participant in French brand-specific racing series, the winemaker notably made his mark in the early 2010s in the Twingo R1 Trophy and the Opel Cup. Once again, he is a top-tier contender who is entering the season.

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