| GUY WILKS |
|
|
Nationality |
UNITED
KINGDOM |
| Age |
22 |
| Co-Driver |
PHIL
PUGH |
| Achievements |
Guy drove his first
full season of
the Junior World
Rally Championship
this year, in a
Ford that was not
as advanced as
much of the opposition.
Nonetheless, he managed to pull off some amazing results - such as third
overall in Finland and Turkey.
Guy
started rallying in 2000 in a one-make series in Britain,
before working his way up to the prestigious British Rally Championship. From
there he made the step up to the JWRC, and was instantly on the pace - underlining
his reputation as Britain's
most promising young driver.
He said: "It's been a good year for me
but I'm hoping that next season will be even better. The competition is going
to be very tough - both within the championship as a whole and within our team.
But I know that the car will be very good and hopefully one of us will end up
as Junior World Rally Champion. I was able to test the 2003-specification Ignis
and I was impressed: the engine in particular was very strong. I reckon the new
Suzuki Ignis will be the benchmark for the opposition, and I'm planning to make the most of it." |
| KOSTI KATAJAMAKI |
|
|
Nationality |
FINLAND |
| Age |
26 |
| Co-Driver |
TIMO ALANNE |
| Achievements |
Kosti has
already completed
two years of the
Junior World Rally
Championship with
Volkswagen, winning
the Rally of Turkey
this year. He is
backed by two-time
World Rally Champion
Marcus Gronholm,
who has earmarked
him as a future champion. Kosti is
a typical 'flying
Finn', with a spectacular
and committed driving
style that should
be well-suited to
the new Suzuki Ignis.
He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity
for me. I already had the opportunity to test the 2003-spec Suzuki Ignis and I knew in the first few kilometres that the car
was very special. It was better than anything else I have driven before. I'll
be testing the new Ignis in early January and I feel
very excited about it. My objective is simply to try and win as many rallies
as possible. I've already been in the JWRC for two years, so now I have to really
show what I can do. I feel more motivated than ever - I'm training six days a
week and I'm determined to make the most of next season." |
|
| PER-GUNNAR
ANDERSSON |
|
|
Nationality
|
SWEDEN |
| Age |
23 |
| Co-Driver |
JONAS
ANDERSSON |
| Achievements |
Per-Gunnar
has been driving since
he was 15, having
started in rallycross.
When he was 19 he
switched to stage
rallying, and he had
his first taste of
the Junior World Championship
this year, when he
drove a Super 1600
car on four events.
He stunned the establishment
by leading overall
in Finland,
and he also contested
some asphalt rallies
to gain experience.
He won Super 1600
on the Swedish Championship
this year, and he'll
be back competing
on selected rounds
of the Swedish Championship
again next year -
in a 2003 specification
Suzuki Ignis.
He said: "Rallying
has been my passion
from a very young
age, so this opportunity
with Suzuki is everything
I could wish for.
I'm friendly with
Daniel Carlsson,
who took two victories
for Suzuki this year,
and he mentioned my
name to the team who
decided to give me
this amazing chance.
Next year will be
an important season.
Although I'm going
to lack experience
compared to the others,
I'll be aiming for
the top. My favourite
events are the gravel
rallies, but I'm enjoying
getting to grips with
asphalt as well. Next
year is going to be
very busy for me,
but I like it that
way!"
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