Suzuki at its strongest yet with the SX4 WRC

The final day of the Acropolis Rally of Greece took crews through another six tough stages to the north of Athens, with the last test being played out in front of thousands of passionate rally fans at the Tatoi military airbase, the event’s base for the last three days.

Sweden’s P-G Andersson turned in a sensational day at the wheel of his Suzuki SX4 WRC. He was only out of the top 10 times once and managed one fifth and one sixth quickest time after a trouble-free day. Unfortunately, not even the double Junior World Rally Champion’s scintillating pace through these rockiest of roads was enough to land him a top 10 position on the event. Andersson’s team-mate Toni Gardemeister did collect a top-10 finish, placing the sister SX4 WRC in ninth place after a similarly straightforward day.

Despite three days of high drama and astonishingly tough competition, Suzuki has had one of its SX4 WRCs in the top 10 for the duration of the toughest round of the World Rally Championship so far this season. Andersson climbed as high as sixth overall before slipping back on yesterday’s second day.

Gardemeister’s Suzuki remained reliable, save for a small problem on day two due to a damaged exhaust system. The team’s reward for its effort on the Acropolis comes in the shape of both cars scoring points in the manufacturers’ championship.

Paul Wilding, Suzuki World Rally Team manager commented: “The team has achieved its objectives here on probably the toughest rally the World Rally Championship will encounter all season. It’s been amazingly rough in places, but Suzuki and the SX4 WRC has encountered fewer problems than many of its rivals. We have picked up three manufacturers’ points and set some great times along the way. All-in-all, this has been a very good event for us. We go home from here happy and looking forward to the challenges which lie in wait.”