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Like all the events, Sardinia will be a new adventure for the SX4 World Rally Car, but the Italian rally is actually the one where Suzuki as a manufacturer has accumulated the most experience. Sardinia has formed part of the Junior World Rally Championship since the gravel event arrived on the WRC calendar in 2004 – and this year is no exception. Consequently Suzuki has already wrapped up four participations in Sardinia, resulting in two class wins and two further podiums. Nonetheless, Sardinia is renowned as being one of the most complicated events on the World Championship due to its inconsistent surfaces and grip levels, which can easily catch out the unwary. Some stages have a hard surface and others are softer, but they all become extremely treacherous during the second run when sharp rocks are often revealed, which can cause punctures.

Having now accumulated knowledge of three gravel events so far this year, Suzuki is hoping to capitalise upon the experience gained to date. Conditions are likely to be hot and dusty in Sardinia but the rally route has not changed considerably from previous years, taking in a number of stages through the millionaire’s playground that is known as the ‘Costa Smeralda’ (Emerald Coast).

The Rally d’Italia Sardegna gets underway with a ceremonial start in the glittering resort of Porto Cervo, at 20:00 on Thursday 15 May. The real action then starts on Friday morning at 09:43, with the first of 17 all-gravel special stages to the north-east of the island. In total the rally will cover 342.86 kilometres, with the central service park located as usual in the port of Olbia. The rally finish is scheduled for 14:30 on Sunday. For more information: www.rallyitaliasardegna.com

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.11 (Gardemeister) and n.12 (Andersson):

Suzuki has accumulated some useful knowledge of Sardinia from previous successful participations in the Junior World Rally Championship. The team has also learnt a number of key lessons from the three gravel rallies held so far this year, with some particularly important discoveries made on the most recent rally in Jordan. The hot and sandy surfaces in Jordan, with some intermittent sharp rocks, have a particular relevance to the quite similar conditions expected in Sardinia.

The Suzuki World Rally Team has made some notable steps forward regarding the differential and suspension geometry of the SX4 WRC, as well as improving the under-body protection. The sump guard has also been reinforced, and the ground clearance readjusted.

For Sardinia, the team’s priority has been to enhance the general reliability of the SX4 WRC in order to maximise the chances of coming away from the event with the best possible points haul. Once more, the main objective is for both cars to score points in Italy – which would be an excellent achievement on what is still only the sixth rally of Suzuki’s first full season.

Driver news:

For once, young Swede P-G Andersson actually has more experience of this event than his illustrious team mate. Whereas P-G has competed on every Rally d’Italia Sardegna since it joined the World Championship in 2004, Toni Gardemeister did not contest the 2006 event. Gardemeister also made a bit of rally history by finishing fifth on the rally in 2005. A technical problem had forced him to retire on a previous leg, but he came back under what was then the brand new super rally system and became the first driver ever to score World Championship points after ‘retiring’ from an event.

This year, he is naturally hoping for a clean run to the finish and no retirements despite the challenging nature of the Sardinian stages. “It’s a tricky rally as it is very inconsistent: the grip and the surfaces are changing all the time,” said the 32 year-old. “On the whole, the surfaces are quite slippery and soft on the top, with a harder base underneath. It’s also quite dusty, so the circumstances are far from easy. The key to success for us will be achieving a good level of reliability. If we can stay out of trouble, then I have absolutely no doubt that we can score points; even quite good points. That has to be the aim here.”

P-G Andersson, a former winner of the Junior World Championship class in Sardinia, has always maintained a good feeling with this event. “I like this rally a lot, although you have to be very careful not to pick up punctures – especially during the second run through the stages,” he commented. “The main thing I think is to be very neat and precise, which I try to be all the time anyway. I’m feeling reasonably optimistic: we found out quite a few important things in Jordan which could hopefully make a difference for us in Sardinia. We’ll certainly have a bit of an attack – that’s why we’re here after all!”

Team news:

After the extreme conditions of Jordan, Suzuki is aiming for improved reliability in Sardinia in order to fulfil its objective of bringing both cars home in the points. The work carried out in Sardinia will be vital for the future, as the next two rallies afterwards – in Greece and Turkey – will also have similar conditions to those seen in Italy. The Rally d’Italia Sardegna is therefore a crucial learning opportunity for the entire team, from the very top downwards. “We still have a long way to go and a lot to improve,” said Suzuki World Rally Team Principal Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima. “However, by staying focussed on our common goals and making progress step by step, I am confident that we will eventually achieve our objectives. To succeed in the World Rally Championship is extremely tough, and Sardinia will play an important part in our development process.”

Prior to the event, the third and final day of the Jordan Rally had been billed as the toughest. With the arduous Jordan River stage – at 41.45km, the longest of the event – run twice, it was not going to be a battle to the finish in the continued scorching temperatures. The day started well for P-G Andersson and his co-driver Jonas Andersson. They turned in an exceptional time on the Wadi Shueib test which followed, posting fourth fastest time in the SX4 WRC. Unfortunately, that was the last stage Andersson and the Suzuki would complete on this fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Andersson slid off the road in the ensuing Jordan River stage and retired from the event. Andersson returned to the service park where he met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The Suzuki World Rally Team endured mixed fortunes in Jordan. Toni Gardemeister retired on the opening day when he was unlucky enough to have a stone hit the bottom of the car, damaging the sump. Andersson went off the road on day one, but bounced back with top 10 times through day two, only for the Swede to fall victim to the difficult road conditions for the second time this morning.

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.11 (Gardemeister), n.12 (Andersson):

Andersson’s Suzuki SX4 WRC ran without any technical faults through the final morning. The team had made no significant overnight changes to the set-up after the Swede’s solid run through Saturday’s eight stages. The sister SX4 WRC of Andersson’s team-mate Toni Gardemeister did not re-start this morning.

Driver news:

Toni Gardemeister: “Of course I am disappointed not to have finished this event. You go to every rally wanting to get to the end, chasing the best possible result. Here I had a real feeling that we could get the SX4 WRC high up the order. I knew there would be a high rate of attrition on what’s
going to be one of the hottest rallies of the year, but I was really sad that we were one of the early victims. The good thing is that P-G has shown some pace yesterday, which is an indication of what the SX4 WRC is capable of.”

P-G Andersson: “This is a really disappointing end to the event for me and for the team. I don’t really understand what happened on stage 19 and how I ended up off the road. It had been going well for me. It was very loose, with a lot of gravel on the surface of the road, but we hadn’t had a problem. We came into a slow left-hand bend, which led into a hairpin right. I had a half-spin after the left, which dropped the front of the car down into the inside of the hairpin. The car went nose in. The rear wheels were still on the road. I put the car in reverse gear straight away, hoping it would reverse out, but the gradient was too steep. Jonas and I jumped out of the car to try and get some more people to help us. Only two people were around. We tried to lift the car out, but it was impossible. On the stage before we’d been fourth quickest, and I was really enjoying it. Obviously I didn’t want to retire from the event, but it was an honour to meet His Majesty King Abdullah II. He was very interested to take a look at the SX4 WRC.”

Team news:

Paul Wilding, Suzuki World Rally Team manager: “Our goal today was not to risk anything, but to bring the car home to the finish and build on the positive results for the SX4 WRC yesterday. Everything was looking good this morning, particularly the fourth fastest time in SS18. The circumstances surrounding P-G going off the road on the next stage are quite strange. I don’t think he was taking risks or pushing too hard. We have seen all the way through this event how difficult this event has been. Many of the other drivers have been caught out by the stage conditions. I think the performance which the team has turned in has demonstrated the speed and the potential of the SX4 WRC. We have been able to take a lot of encouragement from this result. P-G was under a second per kilometre off the pace of the fastest car yesterday, which demonstrates what the Suzuki SX4 WRC is capable of.”

P-G Andersson re-started the second day of Jordan Rally and set top 10 times on all but one of the day’s eight stages in a solid display of consistent pace from the Swede. The double Junior Rally Champion’s Suzuki SX4 WRC ran without any technical faults for the duration of the day, despite continued searing temperatures closing on 40 degrees beside the Dead Sea, the lowest
point on the earth’s surface.

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.12 (Andersson):

The Suzuki World Rally Team has been pleased to bring the SX4 WRC of P-G Andersson through a trouble-free day on one of the toughest ever rounds of the World Rally Championship. Andersson reported no problems on day two and was quick enough to post sixth fastest time in the penultimate test – the second run through Shuna, the longest stage of the day. Andersson’s hopes of a top finish were blown when he slid off the road on the opening stage of the event, but after a strong day behind the wheel of the SX4 WRC, he is in a confident mood ahead of the final day of the inaugural Jordan Rally.

Driver news:

P-G Andersson: “Today has been really good. I was a little bit steady with my pace after I had made a mistake yesterday – there was no way I wanted to do that again. When I came out of the first stage, I could see that my pace had been much too quick yesterday – I learned a great deal about driving on this surface today. The car has been very good. We had some small issues on the downshift, but that was really a minor transmission thing. I am pleased for the team and for myself that we have been able to come through today with some speed and no trouble. I had to think of today as a new day and forget about what happened yesterday, but it’s a real shame – we could have had a good finish here without the problem on day one. Okay, that’s the sport sometimes.”

Team news:

Paul Wilding, Suzuki World Rally Team manager: “Today has been really encouraging for the team. You have to remember that these stages are very, very tough and the drivers are here for the first time. It’s certainly not an easy event and running that bit further back on the road, P-G has been confronted by some fairly big rocks. But he and Jonas have come through all of that without any trouble. The car has performed really well all day – we haven’t done anything to the car. We made some small adjustments to the settings at service, but they were about fine-tuning the car to the conditions, nothing else. It’s been good to see the speed coming from the car. Now we’re looking forward to tomorrow – although that’s certain to be another big challenge, particularly the Jordan River stage.”

In a day of searing heat alongside the Dead Sea, the Suzuki World Rally Team had a challenging start to the first ever World Rally Championship round in Jordan. Finland’s Toni Gardemeister ended the opening test inside the top 10 positions and in a confident mood. Unfortunately for Suzuki, his team-mate P-G Andersson slipped off the road six kilometers into the Suwayma stage, undamaging his car but ending his participation in day one of the Jordan Rally. Andersson will return tomorrow, under the super rally regulations, with his SX4 WRC running again in perfect condition. Gardemeister remained in the top 10 for the next test, but was forced out of the rally after five kilometres of the third stage with a damaged sump.

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.11 (Gardemeister), n.12 (Andersson):

The engine in Gardemeister’s SX4 WRC suffered sufficient damage when a rock hit the sump, that running on the second day was not possible. Such were the rough conditions on the Middle Eastern roads, the Finn couldn’t even remember where the impact had happened. Andersson’s car was completely undamaged when it went off the road. The Swede actually managed to get the
car back on the road himself, having located some pieces of wood to place under the wheels, allowing the car to reverse out of the ditch it had landed in. Unfortunately for the double Junior Rally Champion, he reached the end of the first stage out of time and was unable to continue in day one.

Driver news:

Toni Gardemeister: “I was happy with the first couple of stages. In some corners, we were going a little bit wide, but the times were quite okay. I thought this was going to be a good event for us. We had a real chance to get some good points here. I knew P-G had had a problem and I was thinking
that we needed to make sure there was one SX4 at the finish, so I wasn’t pushing very hard. I wasn’t flat-out and didn’t want to take the big risks.

I don’t know which stone it was that caused the problems – there were so many of them about! As soon as I heard the engine starting to sound like it wasn’t right in SS3, I pulled over and switched it off. I am also upset for the team because I wanted to get a result for them on this rally. I came
here to drive well and to compete with the other cars on even ground. I do believe we could have made a result, particularly when you look at how many of the cars are having problems in these really tough conditions.”

P-G Andersson: “My problem came in a section about six kilometres into the stage. It was a left-hander going into a tighter right. I was too fast into the left and then couldn’t gather the car for the next right. The car started to drift and then went off the road on the inside of the corner. The
front was buried in some deep sand. A couple of people were there to help, but there was no way the car was coming out until I found some wood to go under the wheels. By the time I had done that and we got back on the road, we were OTL (Over Time Limit). I had a slow puncture from earlier in the stage, but the problem was my speed – not the tyre. It’s really disappointing. I need to be in the car and driving stages right now, so there is a lot of frustration when this happens. We all want to show what the SX4 WRC can do.”

Team news:

Paul Wilding, Suzuki World Rally Team manager: “Toni’s problem was unfortunate. It’s very unlucky for the rock to hit precisely the wrong part of the bottom of the car and to cause a problem like this. But this has happened to Toni and cost him and the team dearly. We all feel for Toni and Tomi – they had made good times on the first two stages. This is the drivers’ first time on this event, it’s not like they have many years of pace notes to start with as a reference. Instead they made notes for the
first time. P-G seems to have been caught out by the difference in the recce and rally speed and the unknown factor of what the surface could do. Many of the other drivers have returned to the service park with similar stories. I think it’s just unfortunate that P-G has been caught out by this, and both P-G and the team have paid a heavy price. His SX4 WRC was undamaged in the incident and is running perfectly, so he will be ready to re-start tomorrow.”

The Suzuki World Rally Team started the first ever World Rally Championship round in Jordan this evening, when Toni Gardemeister and P-G Andersson drove their Suzuki SX4 WRCs over the ceremonial startline in the Dead Sea area of Jordan, south-west of the nation’s capital, Amman. Both drivers arrive on Jordan Rally with high hopes of taking points from this historic event. They are both aware, however, of the challenge which lies ahead. The drivers will be faced with 22 arduous gravel stages before they reach the finish on Sunday afternoon. And, unusually for this time of the year in Jordan, they will be competing in some of the hottest temperatures of the season.

Today’s shakedown test was completed with temperatures heading towards 40 degrees. These conditions are expected for the first two days of competition, before the temperature falls to around 25 degrees on Sunday.

Sunday promises a real sting in the tail, with two runs of Jordan River – at 41.45km the longest stage of the event – in one of the toughest final days in recent World Rally Championship history.

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.11 (Gardemeister), n.12 (Andersson):

Never having competed in the Middle East before, Toni Gardemeister and P-G Andersson were both keen to get into the 2.5km shakedown stage, located just north of the service park on the banks of the Dead Sea. Both cars completed their final test before the start without major problems, with Gardemeister and Andersson using the time to conclude their set-up for this fifth round
of the World Rally Championship.

Following a successful test at shakedown, both cars went through their final preparation procedure before they were taken up the road to the ceremonial start on the banks of the Dead Sea. Following the start, the two Suzuki SX4 WRCs were locked into parc ferme for the night before the start of the
competitive action in the morning.

Driver news:

Toni Gardemeister: “This is something new for me – I’ve never rallied in these kind of conditions before. The recce showed how precise we are going to have to be on these roads. There are some big rocks right at the side of the stage, rocks which could end the rally. Having said that, in some places you can go 100 metres off the line of the corner and not hit anything, then in the next bend, you couldn’t go 10cm too wide without hitting a very big rock. The blind crests are going to be very interesting. You think it’s going to be straight after the crest and then there’s a square corner right
ahead of you – it’s very hard to read these roads. I start this event chasing points. I am confident this is possible. Equally, I think this will be an event with plenty of incidents. It’s certainly going to be an exciting rally.”

P-G Andersson: “The shakedown was quite good this morning. I was also pleased with the handling of the car. We have made some adjustments to the car and they’ve worked well. The shakedown road itself wasn’t all that representative of the stages to come, so we can’t really draw too many conclusions about what to expect, but I’m feeling positive and looking forward to the challenge of this new rally in Jordan. One thing is for sure, the stages will be fast and very tricky in places. On some of the long straights, it’s really hard to pick out the road – everything looks grey and with very little definition.”

Team news:

Paul Wilding, Suzuki World Rally Team manager: “This has the look of an extremely difficult event. And the weather is going to make it even tougher with temperatures of 40 degrees plus. The recce went very well for us and the drivers are reporting that the stages are very tricky, with some really
fast sections and hard-packed roads. We are looking forward to this rally and we have prepared well. We have shown in previous events that we can be competitive with the other WRC cars and that’s what we want in Jordan. At the same time, we can learn about the set-up of the car in preparation for the next three similar rallies to come in Sardinia, Greece and Turkey.”

The SX4 WRC of P-G Andersson has scored a manufacturers’ point for Suzuki after an extremely challenging event featuring some of the worst conditions in recent memory. Just three stages made up the final day, but two of them were the most legendary and difficult of the whole event: Giulio Cesare and El Condor. These two stages reach an altitude of more than 2000 metres through the foothills of the Andes.

There is often dense fog, and huge rocks that can catch out the unwary. In these challenging conditions, P-G Andersson set an eighth-fastest time – beating many more experienced competitors and hinting at the potential of the SX4 WRC on a clean run with no problems. The Swede’s visibility was hampered through the El Condor stage as his windscreen misted up in the damp conditions, but he eventually finished the rally to score a precious manufacturers’ point for Suzuki.

Toni Gardemeister re-started the final day in order to rack up some test kilometres, but unfortunately was not able to make the finish.

This year’s Rally Argentina – which took place in the southern hemisphere’s early autumn – presented the crews with an unprecedented range of weather conditions, meaning that only eight of the original 14 World Rally Car starters made the finish.

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.11 (Gardemeister), n.12 (Andersson):

Both drivers experimented with set-ups on the soft and wet stages, concentrating on learning as much as possible for the future. The first day of Andersson’s rally was halted by a turbo boost pressure sensor failure, while a suspension breakage stopped his consistent run on day two. He got to the end of the final day with no major problems.

Gardemeister had a reliable run on the opening day before hitting a rock that was on the racing line in the afternoon. He re-joined for day two but was held back by a combination of hydraulic and electronic problems that prevented him from completing the leg. The Finn managed to complete most of the stages over the three days of the rally and has acquired some valuable information to help the SX4 WRC’s development.

The Suzuki SX4 WRCs arrived in Argentina with some bodywork modifications to cope with the watersplashes, as well as a revised head gasket. Both of these evolutions worked successfully, and the team was able to continue its testing programme on what is still only the fourth event of the SX4 WRC’s first full season.

Driver news:
P-G Andersson: “I’m pleased to get to the end of what has been a very tough rally for us. I’m also pleased that we have scored a manufacturers’ point for Suzuki, although I would have been even happier if we had been able to score some drivers’ points for ourselves as well! We had a good solid run through the Giulio Cesare stage this morning, without pushing too hard, and that indicates the sort of thing we can do when everything is working well. We just have to treat the problems we have experienced here as opportunities to improve and move on. Now we will be working hard in preparation for the next event, Jordan, which is brand new. Nobody starts with an advantage in terms of experience there, so I hope we can do well.”

Toni Gardemeister: “We’ve had a few problems on this event, but the conditions have been even tougher than we expected. The surfaces were extremely slippery, and it was very easy to make a mistake. We just tried to keep the car on the road as much as possible and get to the end. Unfortunately we weren’t quite able to manage that, but we learnt several important lessons along the way and we have a very clear idea of the areas in which we can improve.”

Team news:
Nobuhiro Tajima, Suzuki World Rally Team principal: “It’s clear that we have a lot of work still ahead of us, and although we are very disappointed we have also been quite unlucky here. The boost pressure sensor that stopped P-G on the opening day is a very small component, and it was very unusual for Toni to find a rock that was right on the racing line. We seem to have solved some of the reliability issues that have affected us in the past, but we need to keep working hard in order to solve all the issues we encounter. Only when we have achieved this will we be able to reach our eventual target of competing regularly amongst the frontrunners.”