The three privateer Suzuki Ignis teams have been bitterly disappointed by their premature retirements on the final round of the Junior World Championship, the Rally Great Britain.
 
However, they have promised to bounce back in 2003. Everyone behind each Ignis team is determined not to let this one setback ruin what has been an encouraging debut year for Suzuki in Junior World Rally Championship competition.
All three cars started the opening leg of the Rally Great Britain, which consisted of 132 competitive kilometres. Conditions were changeable over todayÕs six stages, and the three Suzuki drivers were ready to have their skills tested to the utmost.
 
Suzuki Team Finland driver Juha Kangas enjoyed the tricky, muddy conditions but was frustrated to be held up by the Swiss driver Andrea Chemin on the opening stage of the day. ÒI could have gone much faster,Ó he said. He was determined to make amends on stage three, but after a watersplash the car lost traction, and the lack of grip put the young Finn off the road.
ÒIÕm very sad as I knew we had a strong chance of scoring points here,Ó he said. ÒThe car felt very good, but when I lost grip after the water there was nothing more I could do.Ó Even local experts Colin McRae and Richard Burns went off on the slippery stages this morning, losing a minute each.
 

SCHELLE / GEILHAUSEN

Suzuki Team GermanyÕs Niki Schelle was caught out on the same stage by a sharp, slippery corner which he approached too fast. ÒIt was the biggest mistake of my career,Ó said the dejected German afterwards. ÒI had a really good feeling with the car, but your hopes can disappear in just one second. But IÕd like to thank the entire team for the fantastic job theyÕve done all year.Ó
 
Suzuki Team JapanÕs Kazuhiko Niwa spent the first part of the rally getting to grips with the unfamiliar conditions, and also getting used to a new co-driver, Akihiko Takahashi. He grew in confidence, but was unexpectedly caught out by the changing surface. The car went into a ditch, and although it was undamaged, he could not regain the road in time to stay in the rally. ÒI was picking up speed, and it was a silly mistake,Ó he said. ÒBut rallying is all about learning, and sometimes the lessons are very hard. Already IÕve learnt a lot about driving on loose surfaces, and IÕm hoping for better luck in future!Ó
 
Today in the JWRC:
 
FinlandÕs Janne Tuohino finished the last forest stage of the day in the lead with his Citroen Saxo, after erstwhile leader Daniel Sola punctured and dropped to fourth. Championship leader Andrea Dallavilla is second in another Saxo, while local hero Niall McShea is third in an Opel Corsa.
 
Suzuki versus rivals:
 
SS2 Brechfa 1 (23.12km) :
Fastest JWRC: Janne Tuohino (Citroen Saxo) 15m40.8s
Schelle (11th fastest): 16m13.8s
Kangas (12th fastest): 16m15.1s
Niwa: retired
 
SS3 Trawscoed 1 (27.97km) :
Fastest JWRC: Daniel Sola (Citroen Saxo) 19m20.7s
Kangas: retired
Schelle: retired
 
Junior World Championship classification at end of leg one :
 
1. Janne Tuohino (Citro‘n Saxo) 1h18m03s7
2. Andrea Dallavilla (Citro‘n Saxo) 1h18m14s1
3. Neal McShea (Opel Corsa) 1h18m19s8
4. Daniel Sola (Citro‘n saxo) 1h18m36s5
5. Gwyndaf Evans (MG ZR) 1h18m54s2
6. Jussi VŠlimŠki (Citro‘n Saxo) 1h19m07s2