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2003 FIA Junior World Rally Championship
Round 1 -Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo(23-26 January)
Thursday 23 January 2003
SUZUKI TAKE FIRST STEPS IN MONTE CARLO
Surrounded by the world's media, the four Suzuki Ignis teams
took the ceremonial start for the Monte Carlo Rally today, outside
Monaco's famous Casino. The most historic event in rallying
is also the start of a new season and round one of the Junior
World Rally Championship.
The four new drivers were full of hope as they started their
Suzuki adventure. Shortly before heading for the ramp, the drivers
had been honoured guests at Suzuki's press conference in the
Casino.
This morning the cars had their final test runs at the official
shakedown stage near Sospel in the south of France. This is
the last chance for drivers to fine-tune their machines before
the intense three days of competition that lie ahead.
Once again, all four Suzukis were utterly reliable throughout
the shakedown. The only minor problem the teams encountered
was an in-car camera affecting the radio link between driver
and co-driver on Daniel Carlsson's Ignis. The problem was rectified
ahead of tomorrow's stages.
The drivers are scheduled for one of the toughest days of competition
on the entire world championship calendar. In total they will
cover 708 kilometres, 196 of which are competitive. Six stages
comprise the main action ?including two runs through the 47-kilometre
Plan de Vitrolles-Faye test. The first car is due to set off
at 0700 (CET), and will return to Parc Ferme in Monaco at 2244.
The weather conditions on the Monte Carlo Rally are always unpredictable,
so the event will be won on tactics and clever tyre choice as
well as outright speed.
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| The Suzuki Ignis Super 1600 at
the start of his second JWRC season |
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Suzuki Ignis Number 52, Daniel Carlsson
(S)/Mattias Andersson (S)
Carlsson: "Monaco is always an awesome challenge. But it's my
second year of the championship so I have some idea of what
to expect. We'll certainly be trying hard for the best possible
result, but sometimes we will have to drive tactically too." |
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Suzuki Ignis Number
64, Ville-Pertti Teuronen (FIN)/Harri Kaapro (FIN)
Teuronen: "I come from a varied background in motorsport
I have ridden bikes, and driven go-karts, touring cars
and GT cars So I think I'm quite an adaptable driver.
But the Monte Carlo Rally has a fierce reputation, and
I'm sure it is justified. I want to learn the event and
finish." |
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Suzuki Ignis Number
69, Salvador Canellas (E)/Xavier Amigo (E)
Canellas: "Before I have driven mostly four-wheel drive cars,
and in slippery conditions like Monte Carlo, they are easier
than two-wheel drive cars. But we will certainly be doing our
best and pushing hard." |
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Suzuki Ignis Number
71, Urmo Aava (EE)/Kuldar Sikk (EE)
Aava: "This event is very new to me, so the main priority is to finish. I like the car a lot ?it is
very easy and predictable to drive, which is just what you need in the constantly changing
conditions of Monte Carlo." |
For more information or Hi-Res pictures please visit our website
www.suzuki-swt.com/jwrc/e/
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