[Racer Duck]

After two introductory events last year, the all new Suzuki World Rally Team enters its first full World Rally Championship season in 2008. With a new car, the SX4 WRC, and a driver line-up that pairs the experienced Toni Gardemeister with one of the WRC's ascendant stars, two-time Junior champion, Per-Gunnar Andersson, Suzuki could be capable of upsetting some of the more established teams in 2008.

The first of the 15 rounds that make up the 2008 World Rally Championship is the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, the oldest and most prestigious event of the series. Just like the roulette games played in the Principality's famous casino, the outcome of the rally can be a lottery. Conditions can vary many times in the same stage, and it is not uncommon for a stage to start off in bright sunshine and end with snow and ice.



The all new SX4 WRC sports a striking new white and yellow livery for 2008, and it has already racked up a number of testing kilometres in the region following a pre-Monte Carlo test at the end of last year with both drivers.

Using the valuable experience gained from the two test events in 2007, the SX4 WRC features new differential and suspension settings for Monte Carlo, as well as a raft of other improvements under the skin.

Like all the other cars, the SX4 WRC will run on Pirelli's all-new control tyres introduced for this year. These tyres are not permitted to have anti-deflation mousse, and only one type of tread pattern and compound is allowed per event, in order to reduce costs. However drivers are permitted to hand-cut the tyres to help disperse water or loose gravel, and for Monte Carlo a short stud can also be used if necessary, to find grip in icy conditions.

For the second consecutive year, the Monte Carlo Rally will start off with two night stages on Thursday evening in the town of Valence, in the Ardeche region of France. The route takes in 12 more stages in the area on Friday and Saturday, before moving down to Monaco for four classic stages over the Col de Turini and a special stage using part of Monaco's famous Grand Prix circuit. The prize-giving ceremony will take place in front of Monaco's Royal Palace on Sunday at 15:30 (CET).

The entire Suzuki team is eagerly awaiting the unique challenge of Monte Carlo, and the whole 2008 season.

more...