SUZUKI IN THE 2005 JUNIOR WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Junior World Rally Championship (Junior WRC) is organised by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), with the aim of attracting young and talented rally drivers. First held during 2001, it was originally called the ‘Super 1600 Championship’.

The 2005 JWRC forms part of the World Rally Championship and is being contested over eight rounds.

This is the fourth year in succession Suzuki has appeared on the international rally stage at this level and the drivers start the season in the championship-winning Ignis Super 1600 before switching to the brand new Swift during the second half of the year.

Last year’s Junior World Rally Champion Per-Gunnar Andersson is again joined by Great Britain’s Guy Wilks. Suzuki Sport Europe will also run a pair of Ignis Super 1600 cars for Kosti Katajamaki and Urmo Aava – who also drove an Ignis last year. In addition, Czech team JM Engineering are running two new Ignis entries for Italian Alan Scorcioni and Czech Pavel Valousek. Finally there will be another Ignis run by Czech team Jipocar for Martin Prokop.

Suzuki Motor Sport for Europe is headquartered in Milton Keynes, England.

Into 2005 on a high
Last year saw Suzuki secure its first ever four-wheel world title, with Sweden’s Per-Gunnar Andersson winning the JWRC after the final round, Rally Catalunya. The season was so successful that the Japanese manufacturer won five of the seven rounds and occupied three of the top four places in the overall championship.

Europe Team Manager, Risto Laine, was understandably ecstatic at winning the world championship. He said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better season and I’m very happy for everyone involved from the drivers and co-drivers to everyone behind the scenes and especially for Suzuki Motor Corporation. The success has been as a result of everyone working together.”

He added: “Since starting with the Ignis in the Junior World Championship in 2002 we’ve met our aims of being competitive in 2003 and winning the title in 2004. The car has proved to be very reliable and as such has given confidence to the drivers to push to the limit. The combination of car reliability and driver confidence is now reflected in this world title.”

Junior World Rally Championship 2004 - Overall results
Suzuki Ignis Super 1600

Monte Carlo Rally 2nd, 6th, 8th
Acropolis Rally 1st
Rally of Turkey 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th
Rally Finland 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th
Wales Rally GB 1st, 3rd, 4th
Rally d’Italia 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Rally Catalunya 2nd, 3rd, 5th

JWRC classification 2004
1 Per-Gunnar Andersson (S) Suzuki 39 points
2 Nicolas Bernardi (F) Renault 37 points
3 Guy Wilks (GB) Suzuki 34 points
4 Kosti Katajamaki (FIN) Suzuki 31 points
5 Mirco Baldacci Suzuki 23 points
6 Larry Cols Renault 21 points
7 Kris Meeke Opel/Citroen 18 points
8 Urmo Aava Suzuki 16 points