Suzuki names pilots for SX4 WRC 2008

Toni Gardemeister and Per-Gunnar Andersson will be driving the all-new Suzuki SX4 WRC in 2008. By nominating the Scandinavians, Suzuki brings a famous face back to the WRC tracks and enables one of its juniors to enter the world’s most demanding motor sport competition, thus following the corporation’s international motor sport strategy.

The Nordic quartet, completed by co-drivers Tomi Tuominen and Jonas Andersson, will accomplish its premiere at Rallye Monte Carlo on 24 January 2008, when Suzuki will enter its first full World Rally Championship season.

“Toni is one of the world’s best rally drivers with a wide experience on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice, but also with superb testing skills. And with PG, the first and only person to win the Junior Rally Championship title two times – in a Suzuki Ignis Super 1600 in 2004, this year with the Suzuki Swift Super 1600 –, we are continuing a close and very successful partnership,” said Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima, president of Suzuki Sport and principal of the Suzuki World Rally Team. “Together with their co-drivers Tomi and Jonas they form a very strong unit, enabling us to push the car’s development and take the SX4 WRC to its next level.”

“It is very nice to work with a newcomer,” stated Toni Gardemeister. “Suzuki has a great team and I am happy that I can be part of this exciting project. I am sure that we have to work very hard together, but that we will have a great future.”

P-G Andersson is also excited about the WRC entry: “I am really looking forward to joining the Suzuki World Rally Team. It will be my first year in the WRC, so there are many things to learn,” said the Junior Rally Champion. “I have been in the Suzuki family for four years now and know the team’s exceptional capability.”

For Suzuki the WRC entry is one of the most important initiatives for the corporation’s automobile division in recent years, providing technical feedback, which will assist in the development of new models for launch in the future.

By nominating P-G Andersson, Suzuki completes its pyramidal motor sport strategy ranging from local driving training programmes, over national brand cups into international championships. Hence the all-wheel drive expert and global leader in the mini car segment will be represented in all of the most important rally classes worldwide.