Stephane Sarrazin has started testing Toyota’s new Yaris World Rally Car in Tuscany this week, and was joined by the experienced Sebastian Lindholm.
According to a report in UK magazine Autosport, this week's Italian mileage is the first time the Yaris WRC has been driven in anger on loose surfaces.
The test programme is being run by Motorsport Italia. Team owner Bruno De Pianto refused to be drawn on progress made with the Yaris.
"We are providing a service in co-operation with Toyota," said De Pianto.
"This is in accordance with Toyota's communication regarding this subject."
The Japanese marque has yet to confirm its World Rally Championship return, but its motorsport arm TMG has ruled out the potential of competing next season.
It remains possible the Yaris could run in the 2016 WRC, but a more likely scenario would be delivering the car to coincide with the new technical regulations in 2017, Autosport reported.
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