20 Jan 08

2008 FIA WRC season launch

Questions to the Suzuki team

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Everyone has been waiting with baited breath for Suzuki to join the WRC and it's great to include a new manufacturer. What are your aims in your debut season?

Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima: It's possible to be World Champion. We want to make the team. They are working very hard in the workshop. They are coming tomorrow.

Please can you tell us a bit about the two new team members - Mr. Inagaki, Technical Director,and Akira Kawada, Team Manager?

Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima: Inagaki used to be with Mitsubishi, he has retired, so he is quite old - but his mind is very young, younger than the boys [Gardemeister, Andersson]. He will come tomorrow. Kawada has a lot of experience in APRC and in PWRC. I want to make a good time with both of them.

This is your first outing in the SX4 but you come to the team with possibly the widest range ofexperience of WRC cars of any driver. Explain the benefits or challenges of changing teams and cars.

Toni Gardemeister: Thanks from everybody. Like you told them, I have a lot of experience from different teams, but it's very exciting to start with a new team and nice to bring feelings from the other cars. I can say which kind of car is like this and that. I can tell them how to make our car work better and that's what I'm doing for sure.

How has the SX4 been performing in testing and what do you think it is capable of during the season?

Toni Gardemeister: Testing has gone well. In Sweden I was happy with the car in twisty conditions. We have still a lot to do, but every test we find something that improves the speed and technical side. We are much more reliable all of the time.

If I'm not mistaken, you've only done one event in a 4WD turbo-charged rally car before. How difficult is it changing from a S1600 car to a WRC car?

P-G Andersson: Of course, it's a big, big difference the speed is much higher. But the experience from the Juniors helps,but it's going to take some time to transfer the speed.

You're the first driver to win the J-WRC twice. Other Junior champions who have stepped up to the WRC - Dani Sordo and Sébastien Loeb - have a pretty good track record and one of them has become a four-time World Champion! Any pressure?!

P-G Andersson: I will try my best. Maybe not this year, but in two years, 2010, we will try to win the Championship for sure.