21-year-old Italian rally driver Matteo Doretto killed in crash

Dubai: A 21-year-old Italian driver died while testing his car in Poland, according to the European Rally Championship.

Matteo Doretto, driving a Peugeot 2108 Rally4, suffered a fatal accident near the town of Pasym, in noreastern Poland after the car crashed into a tree on Wednesday morning.

He was conducting a private test session for the upcoming Rally Poland “when he lost his life in an accident,” the ERC said in a statement. Co-driver Samuele Pellegrino was unhurt.

The 21-year-old Doretto was the Italian junior champion last year and was in his first season in the ERC. He was fourth in the junior standings.

“With potential in abundance, Matteo was polite, engaging but, above all, modest,” the ERC said.