Management changes at Suzuki

The Suzuki World Rally team has appointed Paul Wilding to the position of team manager for the rest of the 2008 season.

The appointment was made following the resignation of Akira Kawada, team manager from the end of 2007, who has decided to return to his previous career as a motoring journalist.

Wilding, who is 39-years-old and from Australia, will begin his new job on the forthcoming Rally Argentina. A long term associate of Suzuki Sport Japan, Wilding has been involved in many of the company’s rally projects over the years. He was the chief co-ordinator of Suzuki’s debut J-WRC season in 2002 and manager of its Asia-Pacific Rally Championship team between 2002 and 2004 and J-WRC team in 2006.

Wilding also managed multiple international hill climb entries with Suzuki WRC team principal, Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima.

“During our three debut events at Rallye Monte Carlo, Swedish Rally and Rally Mexico the team benefited greatly from Akira Kawada’s wide WRC experience and we are very grateful for his contribution and his efforts,” said team principal Nobuhiro Tajima. “It is unfortunate that for reasons personal to Kawada san and beyond our control we cannot continue our association with him for the remainder of the year. We wish him well in the future.”