Team Suzuki Ignis Report Vol.1 From Spain to Greece with Suzuki... 29 March 2002 Schelle/Weiss The three privateer Suzuki Ignis teams, fresh from their adventures on the Catalunya Rally in Spain, are already looking forward to the next round of the Junior World Rally Championship in Greece. Suzuki became the only newcomers to the Championship to get two cars to the finish in Spain, and they are looking to go one better on the Acropolis Rally by completing the event with all three cars. But as Suzuki Team Ignis Finland manager Risto Laine explains, it's not only the end result on paper that counts. Finland manager Risto Laine ÒThe most important thing of all is the way we develop the cars for the future,Ó he says. ÒComing into such a competitive championship as a new manufacturer is an enormous task. So we have to be constantly looking for new ways to make progress. And that was probably our biggest success in Spain.Ó The Junior World Rally Championship is a new category introduced last year, and has representatives from the biggest motor manufacturers in the world, like Ford, Opel, Fiat, Peugeot, and Citroen. Although Suzuki, Japans' number 1 minicar manufacturer, does not have the years of rallying experience of many of its rivals, the three bright yellow Ignis cars have already caused a stir. Suzuki Team Ignis Germany driver Nikolaus Schelle finished 8th in the Junior World Championship rally in Spain, three places ahead of his colleague Juha Kangas from Suzuki Team Ignis Finland. The third car is run by Suzuki Team Ignis Japan, whose driver Kazuhiko Niwa came heartbreakingly close to scoring his first World Championship finish in Spain, before retiring on the very last stage. Suzuki Team Ignis Germany manager Andreas Ruths said: ÒWe're delighted to have scored our second consecutive top 10 finish with Nikolaus, after our success in Monte Carlo. Fundamentally, we had no real mechanical problems at all which shows what a good basic package the Ignis is. And, of course, the driver counts for a lot too!Ó Schelle though faces a brand new challenge on the Acropolis Rally in Greece. ÒI'm very happy with my results so far in Monte Carlo and Spain,Ó he said. ÒBut Greece is a very different proposition. I don't have so much experience on rough gravel, so there will be a lot for me to learn.Ó What Suzuki lack in terms of experience, they make up for in enthusiasm. As Risto Laine concluded: ÒThere is a real feeling of optimism because of the enormous progress we have made in such a short space of time. In our first rally, Monte Carlo in January, we were about four seconds off the pace of the leading car. We reduced that by half in Spain to just two seconds.Ó The last seconds are always the most difficult to make up, but the three Suzuki teams are confident that they can improve even more in Greece. World rallying tests man and machine under a huge variety of conditions. The rough, rocky tracks of the Acropolis Rally are vastly different to the fast, flowing asphalt of Spain. Before Spain, the three crews had battled the sub-zero snow and ice of Monte Carlo! ÒThere's a lot of different things to get used to in rallying,Ó agrees Risto Laine. ÒThat is why we are going to do as much testing as possible before the Acropolis.Ó Each driver will receive a brand-new gravel specification Ignis for the event, which will be totally different to the asphalt cars they had in Spain. Cars ride much higher in Greece to avoid the razor-sharp rocks on the road. Reliability and strength rather than out-and-out power is the key to success. The teams will start their testing programme next month in Europe before moving to Greece for the final tests. The work will concentrate on suspension ø vital on heavily rutted surfaces ø and endurance testing, as the Acropolis is one of the most demanding rallies of the calendar. Not only the cars, but the drivers will be preparing themselves too. The temperatures inside the cockpit can easily exceed 50 degrees centigrade in Greece, so some of the top World Rally Cars fit air conditioning. But there are no such luxuries for the brave Super 1600 drivers. Japan's Kazuhiko Niwa explains: ÒAfter the Catalunya Rally, I have a much better understanding of the physical demands of world rallying. It was very hot and exhausting, but I had a lot of fun! I am working on a good exercise programme to make sure that I am as fit as possible for the Acropolis.Ó The German and Finnish drivers, Nikolaus Schelle and Juha Kangas, are also rolling up their sleeves for some hard work. ÒI'm really looking forward to the Acropolis,Ó said Kangas. ÒGravel is where I have most experience, but I really enjoyed driving on asphalt in Spain as well.Ó Rallying is a sport that never stops. All around the world, 24 hours a day, teams are working hard for their next event. Suzuki may be the new boys, but their three teams are no exception. ÒWe are seeing the results already,Ó said Suzuki Team Ignis Finland manager Risto Laine. ÒLet's hope for the best in Greece!Ó The third round of the Junior World Rally Championship, the Acropolis Rally, with its rally HQ in Itea, will be from June 13-16.

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