M-Sport cancels fourth WRC Puma for Bertelli in Sweden
The Rally Sweden organizers have released the registration list for the snow rally, which will be held 24-27 February, with 11 Rally1 cars including four Pumor.
M-Sport drove at least four cars in this weekend’s Monte Carlo Rally with its fourth entry piloted by nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb and Isabelle Galmiche who won the competition.
The British team confirmed to Motorsport.com that they would like to see Loeb and Galmiche return for another rally this year, following their Monte Carlo success, but a deal is not yet secured.
The long-standing M-Sport customer Bertelli will take over the fourth car for Rally Sweden for what will be the Italian’s first taste of Rally1 hybrid machinery.
The 33-year-old competed in two WRC races last year and drove an M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta at Arctic Rally Finland and Safari Rally in Kenya.
Bertelli has made sporadic appearances in the WRC since 2011 with his best result to date in eighth place in Rally Mexico 2016.
“We will be back in Rally Sweden with an M-Sport Puma Rally. Can’t wait to sit at the wheel of this beast “, it said in a post on Bertelli’s social media.
Sébastien Loeb, Isabelle Galmiche, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Following confirmation of Bertelli’s performance in Sweden, M-Sports’ Gus Greensmith will now be eligible for manufacturer points after that honor was awarded to Loeb, Craig Breen and Adrien Fourmaux in Monte Carlo.
Greensmith finished fifth last weekend after an engine failure prevented him from challenging for a possible podium spot. The Briton made his first WRC stage win after beating Loeb and eight-time champion Sebastien Ogier in step 7.
The only other change in the Rally1 lineup for Rally Sweden is that Esapekka Lappi takes over the third Toyota GR Yaris feature driven by Ogier last weekend.
Lappi will compete in the majority of WRC rounds this year, while Ogier is expected to compete in as many as four rallies, following his decision to reduce his commitments for 2022.
Rally Sweden Rally1 Registration list
# 33 Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
# 69 Kalle Rovanpera / Jonne Halttunen – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
# 4 Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
# 18 Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston -Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
# 11 Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe – Hyundai Motorsport – Hyundai i20 N Rally1
# 8 Ott Tanak / Martin Jarveoja – Hyundai Motorsport – Hyundai i20 N Rally1
# 2 Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson – Hyundai Motorsport – Hyundai i20 N Rally1
# 42 Craig Breen / Paul Nagle – M-Sport Ford – Ford Puma Rally1
# 44 Gus Greensmith / Jonas Andersson – M-Sport Ford – Ford Puma Rally1
# 16 Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria – M-Sport Ford – Ford Puma Rally1
# 37 Lorenzo Bertelli / Simone Scattolin – M-Sport Ford – Ford Puma Rally1