Andersson's baptism of snow

After wintry pre-Monte Carlo tests last December, this week the new Suzuki World Rally Team is holding a three-day test in readiness for the second round of the 2008 world championship, in Sweden, the home country of the team's number two driver Per-Gunnar Andersson.

The test is being run at Kall in the Jamt region of north central Sweden, in full snow. Andersson is due to drive the first two days, with the team's lead driver, Toni Gardemeister, the third day. "This programme is a dream for me," Andersson told Swedish television on Tuesday evening.

"Driving a World Rally Car is a big difference to the Super 1600 JWRC cars which I have rallied in the past, but already I have a good feeling. My big challenge is stepping up to the top level of the championship, but I know I can cope."

Andersson’s experience of four wheel drive, turbocharged rallying is still very limited, limited only to one rally in a Group N Mitsubishi and a rallysprint with a Focus WRC.