Toni Gardemeister and Per-Gunnar Andersson will be piloting the all-new Suzuki SX4 WRC in 2008. By nominating the Scandinavians, Suzuki brings a famous face back to the WRC tracks and enables one of its juniors to enter the worlds most demanding motor sport competition, thus following the corporation's international motor sport strategy. The Nordic quartet, completed by the co-drivers Tomi Tuominen and Jonas Andersson, will accomplish its premiere at Rallye Monte Carlo on 24 January 2008, when Suzuki will enter its first full World Rally Championship season.

"Toni is one of the world's best rally drivers with a wide experience on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice, but also with superb testing skills. And with PG, the first and only person to win the Junior Rally Championship title two times - on a Suzuki Ignis Super 1600 in 2004, this year with the Suzuki Swift Super 1600 -, we are continuing a close and very successful partnership", said Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima, president of Suzuki Sport and principle of the Suzuki World Rally Team. "Together with their co-drivers Tomi and Jonas they form a very strong unit, enabling us to push the cars development and take the SX4 WRC to its next level."

"It is very nice to work with a newcomer", stated Toni Gardemeister. "Suzuki has a great team and I am happy that I can be part of this exciting project. I am sure that we have to work very hard together, but that we will have a great future." Also P-G Andersson is excited about the WRC entry: "I am really looking forward to joining the Suzuki World Rally Team. It will be my first year in the WRC, so there are many things to learn", said the Junior Rally Champion. "I have been in the Suzuki family for four years now and know the team's exceptional capability."

For Suzuki the WRC entry is one of the most important initiatives for the corporation's automobile division in recent years, providing technical feedback, which will assist in the development of new models for launch in the future. By nominating P-G Andersson, Suzuki completes its pyramidal motor sport strategy ranging from local driving training programs, over national brand cups into international championships. Hence the all-wheel expert and global leader in the mini car segment will be represented in the most important rally classes worldwide.

Pilot's profiles

First name:     Toni
Last name:     Gardemeister
Nationality:     Finland
Date of birth:     March 31, 1975
Rally debut:     1993
WRC debut:     1996
Results:    2005 Rallye Monte Carlo, 2nd pos.
2005 Acropolis Rally of Greece, 2nd pos.
2005 Rallye de France - Tour de Corse, 2nd pos.

First name:     Tomi
Last name:     Tuominen
Nationality:     Finland
Date of birth:     November 8, 1971
Rally debut:     1991
WRC debut:     1999
Results:     2004/2006 Finish Rally Champion
2006 Rally d'Italia Sardegna, 6th pos.

First name:     Per-Gunnar
Last name:     Andersson
Nationality:     Sweden
Date of birth:     March 10, 1980
Rally debut:     1999
JWRC debut:     2004
Results:     2002/2003 Norwegian Rally Champion
2003/2004 Swedish Rally Champion
2004/2007 FIA Junior Champion

First name:     Jonas
Last name:     Andersson
Nationality:     Sweden
Date of birth:     January 1, 1977
Rally debut:     1993
JWRC debut:     2004
WRC debut:     2006
Results:     2002/2003 Norwegian Rally Champion
2003/2004 Swedish Rally Champion
2004/2007 FIA Junior Champion