Sanremo, 19 September 2002
| SUZUKI POISED FOR FLYING START |
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| NIWA / WEISS |
The three privateer Suzuki Ignis crews are eagerly looking forward to an exciting day of action tomorrow, after the Sanremo Rallye's ceremonial start this evening.
Germany's Niki Schelle, Japan's Kazuhiko Niwa and Finland's Juha Kangas all drove their cars over the start ramp in San Remo town centre, but the first stage does not start until tomorrow morning (Friday).
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| SCHELLE / GEILHAUSEN |
KANGAS / LAAKSONEN |
The Italians are amongst the most passionate rally fans on the planet, and there was a huge turn out to wish all the competing crews luck as they started the rally.
The Sanremo Rallye, round five of the Junior World Championship, is one of the most challenging events on the calendar. The rally is run over narrow mountain roads, characterised by sharp hairpin bends and plunging drops.
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| SCHELLE / GEILHAUSEN |
Although none of the Suzuki drivers have competed on the Sanremo Rallye before, Suzuki Team Germany's Niki Schelle has experience of similar roads from national Italian events.
The German scored Suzuki's best-ever result - third - and set the marque's first fastest stage time on the Rallye Deutschland three weeks ago.
He said: "I'm feeling confident about this event after such a good result in Germany. It shows how much progress we have made in a short space of time. But there's no big secret to this - it's just the result of hard work by everyone in the team."
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| KANGAS / LAAKSONEN |
Juha Kangas, from Suzuki Team Finland, is looking forward to the event as well, as he seeks to broaden his asphalt experience.
The Finn commented: "Normally Scandinavians have a very strong reputation on gravel, but I'd like us to show that we can be fast on asphalt as well! The Sanremo Rallye is very demanding but I enjoy it. It's a classic event, and our car seems quite well suited for the job."
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| NIWA / WEISS |
Niwa has yet another challenge - hearing his pace notes in English. Until now he has had his notes read out in Japanese, but he is determined to adapt to the European style of pace noting. So his notes will now be read out in English by Gerhard Weiss - who normally navigates for Schelle. Weiss is replaced in Schelle's car by Tanja Geilhausen, who steered the German to his success on the Rallye Deutschland.
Niwa said: "I have a lot to learn. But Gerhard's experience will help me, and the Ignis is also very easy to drive. I will build up my speed gradually, and my confidence in the car is growing with every day."
The three Suzukis appear in broadly the same specification to Deutschland, but with improvements to the engine management system. Tomorrow the crews face an early start, with the first car leaving San Remo at 0600 (CET). The cars will cover 147 competitive kilometres over eight stages during the day. The total competitive distance of the rally - run over three days - is 385 kilometres.
"The cars are in Parc Ferme overnight, so there's nothing more we can do now," said Suzuki Sport boss Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima. "The weather conditions are very unpredictable so the only thing that remains is to wish the crews the best of luck! "
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