Suzuki Anouncing Drivers Friday

[Barry_]

The Suzuki World Rally Team has confirmed that it will announce its driver line-up for next year's FIA World Rally Championship on Friday, December 14th.

The Japanese manufacturer will contest the entire 2008 season with the all-new SX4 WRC car, which already made its debut in the championship at this year's Rallye de France - Tour de Corse.

Stay tuned for this Friday's announcement...

Who do you think suzuki would choose to drive for them next year...i got a strong feeling for gardemeister and maybe guy wilks as number 2..what do yall think?

[Micke_VOC]

Anyone now were the Announcing is ??
Japan ?
Dubai motorshow. ?

[Jaanus]

Well the names are all known:
Gardemeister for no1
Former Suzuki junior drivers Wilks, PGA, Baldacci and Aava are all still possibilities for the second car.

[Priorat]

Given the lack of top drivers in the championship, I would prefer Gardemeister in a better car but, if it is Suzuki or nothing, then it's welcome.

[SubaruNorway]

Seems like PG is in for Sweden and Monte.

http://www.svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=21146&a=1000279&lid=puff_1000287&lpos=bild

[Tomi]

congrats to andersson good choise from suzuki.

[Viking]

From http://www.racingworld.it and google translate :s anta:

WRC-PG Andersson and Mirco Baldacci on Suzuki SX4!

Former Official Suzuki pilots in World Junior, Per-Gunnar Andersson and Mirco Baldacci, they tried Suzuki SX4 World Rally Car.

According to what has leaked from some indiscretions, the two have recently played a test session on Japanese car, strictly behind closed doors. It is likely with the version 2008 that debut in Monte Carlo and that the engineers are already working for some months.

[Roy]

Suzuki postpone driver announcement.

Confirmation was due at 8 am CET on Friday December 14, however Hirotaka Ono, Board member of the Suzuki Motor Corporation and in charge of the European market, passed away on Thursday night and as such the announcement has been postponed as a mark of respect.

A new date has yet to be set.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158103-0/suzuki_postpone_driver_announcement.html

[Fischer]

Wait a minute, how certain are we that Gardemeister is going to be the lead driver of Suzuki?
I ask this because these Suzuki chumps are so unpredictable that they'll probably cancel their entry in an event because their director broke a fingernail. They haven't scored one manufacturers' point yet and already they regard themselves as the top team in the field.

[Viktory]

http://www.automotorsport.se/nyhetsmall.asp?version=67716

PG Andersson will be one of the drivers for all 15 rounds!!
Very happy with this news :D

Oh and it says Gardemeister will drive the other car.

[bf1_IRL]

Are the entries for the full season teams and drivers for 2008 supposed to be with the FiA (and published) on Friday?

[A.F.F.]

Perse edellä puuhun. That's all I can think of Suzuki. :rolleyes:

[Tom206wrc]

Suzuki postpone driver announcement.

Confirmation was due at 8 am CET on Friday December 14, however Hirotaka Ono, Board member of the Suzuki Motor Corporation and in charge of the European market, passed away on Thursday night and as such the announcement has been postponed as a mark of respect.

A new date has yet to be set.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158103-0/suzuki_postpone_driver_announcement.html




RIP...

Condolences to Ono's family :(

[Lalo]

Just published on ewrc.cz. Here's the link:
http://www.ewrc.cz/ewrc/show.php?id=7391

Cool that Garde will be the nº1 driver, he's got a lot of talent. P-G will be really happy by he's step-up in the wrc. Too bad Galli isn't gonna drive for them..

I can't find a proper translation for the link.

[PLuto]

Just published on ewrc.cz. Here's the link:
http://www.ewrc.cz/ewrc/show.php?id=7391

Cool that Garde will be the nº1 driver, he's got a lot of talent. P-G will be really happy by he's step-up in the wrc. Too bad Galli isn't gonna drive for them..

I can't find a proper translation for the link.

There isnt nothing more important. It is speculation of swedish journalists.

[Helstar]

Perse edellä puuhun
Sono d'accordo qualunque cosa significhi :D

[Helstar]

Too bad Galli isn't gonna drive for them..

Well, if it's true he's going to drive a Stobart Ford, then it's better trust me xD

Racing with slow and unreliable car destroys careers easily...

Anyway, congrats to Gardemeister and Andersson if the news is real, and I hope Suzuki will improve (at least to Subaru level ^^).

[ste898]

Andersson is a excellent choice but if Suzuki want top results Gardi is definately not the man!!!!

[Corny]

Andersson is a excellent choice but if Suzuki want top results Gardi is definately not the man!!!!

Then who is?

[Woodeye]

Andersson is a excellent choice but if Suzuki want top results Gardi is definately not the man!!!!

Just out of curiosity, how can you justify this?

[SubaruNorway]

Gardemeister has been in lots of different cars and the year with Ford in 2005 he was leading overall after two rounds and fourth overall only 13 points behind Petter so thers no doubt he would be a good choice.

[Donney]

I think it is a very good team, let's see if the car develops.

[Paul.G]

Thought they had put off the announcment due to Hirotaka Ono passing away?
If this is right though I though they might have secured a bigger name than Gardemeister although he has done quite a few of the events he just seems to be a bit off the pace?

[RallyfanNZ]

Thought they had put off the announcment due to Hirotaka Ono passing away?

They have.

[Lalo]

It's good to know that Galli will be at Stobart team next year, I didn't know that.

Toni will be a very good element in order to develope the car. I hope he don't get the same situation he had at Skoda for three years. Andersson will be making his debut in the WRC category and he may have a couple of good results as Loeb and Sordo had after jumping up from the JWRC.

If everything goes on Suzuki's favor, the team won't have the same luck as Skoda did a couple of years ago. Maybe they'll be like Mitsubishi in 2004 and 2005 (too bad they quitted the developement after that season).

Good luck Suzuki, Toni and Per-Gunnar!! :D

[pino]

It's good to know that Galli will be at Stobart team next year, I didn't know that.



It's only a rumour at the moment...as it is this about Suzuki have signed Toni and Per-Gunnar. We have to wait for the official announcement ;)

[jiipee64]

http://www.tonigardemeister.com/tonigardemeister.php

[Zes]

Andersson is a excellent choice but if Suzuki want top results Gardi is definately not the man!!!!

Suzuki wouldn't get top results even if they had signed Loeb...

Good to see Toni driving a full season, but it's a pity he can't get a proper car. IF Suzuki can make it to be on the top, it's going to happen after 2-3 years or so. Toni will be too old for Suzuki then.

[Viking]

Could this mean anything??????

http://www.tonigardemeister.com/tonigardemeister.php

Ehh....

WELCOME TO THE SPEEDY RALLY WORLD OF TONY GARDERMEISTER-SUZUKI SX4 RALLY DRIVER!!

...Yes :D

[N]

Finally, Gardemeister is a good driver and deserves a full season, I just hope that this won't end like it did with Škoda...

[Woodeye]

http://www.tonigardemeister.com/tonigardemeister.php

Heh. It seems that nobody remembered to give Toni a call that Suzuki will announce the drivers later than Friday. 16 rounds with Suzuki is great news! :D :up:

[Glee]

http://www.tonigardemeister.com/tonigardemeister.php


It is now a 404 / Apache Webserver test page

I guess Japan has called and said: Pull the plugg of your web page!

[Wim_Impreza]

Finally, Gardemeister is a good driver and deserves a full season, I just hope that this won't end like it did with Škoda...

I am afraid of it.

[RS]

Finally, Gardemeister is a good driver and deserves a full season, I just hope that this won't end like it did with Škoda...

You mean with a works Ford drive?

[SubaruNorway]

Heh. It seems that nobody remembered to give Toni a call that Suzuki will announce the drivers later than Friday. 16 rounds with Suzuki is great news! :D :up:

haha to late

[N.O.T]

pity to see these 2 drivers waste a year like that.....

[Tomi]

pity to see these 2 drivers waste a year like that.....

Not sure if it is a waste, Garde has pumped very much money in rally, its good they get something back too, and if Anderssons other option was to drive village events in Norway or to stay at home, this seems like a good one for both, only lets hope Suzuki dont call it a day too early.

[N.O.T]

Well the thing is i have never seen a team in WRC which started badly and evolved as years passed by.....

Sure from the drivers point of view it is sure better to get paid and drive a crap car than to pay for your drives....and for gardemeister which is towards the end of his career its ok....but for andersson i think its a bad start.

[eppel]

PG says to Norwegian media that he will drive MC and Sweden. Number 1 driver will be Gardemeister.

I Nowegian: http://www.motorsport.no/bilsport/rally/article3191213.ece

[eppel]

...and if PG make a good debut he will drive the whole season!

[Tomi]

Sure from the drivers point of view it is sure better to get paid and drive a crap car than to pay for your drives....and for gardemeister which is towards the end of his career its ok....but for andersson i think its a bad start.

Maybe, But all drivers now sitting in works cars seem to be there for a few years at least, so Andersson better now save his money and show what he can when some works team next time is looking for a second driver.

[Fischer]

Is Gardemeister going to be paid by Suzuki or is it the other way around?

[Tomi]

Is Gardemeister going to be paid by Suzuki or is it the other way around?
paid by suzuki

[ste898]

Finally, Gardemeister is a good driver and deserves a full season, I just hope that this won't end like it did with Škoda...

Who is this new Gardemeister that is a good driver.......the one I have seen is nothing special at all.........

[SubaruNorway]

Who is this new Gardemeister that is a good driver.......the one I have seen is nothing special at all.........

No, he's not world champion material but very reliable. How old is he now, feels like he's been around for ages.

[alleskids]

He was one of a couple young up coming drivers that took part in a shoot out of Subaru in 1998. Juha Kangas, Jarmo Kytholethe, Toni, Toshi Arai, Alister and one of the Higgens brothers, and Nail McShae (?). Toni has been around in WRC for a long time.

[N.O.T]

Who is this new Gardemeister that is a good driver.......the one I have seen is nothing special at all.........

check your eyesight then.....

[WRCfan]

Who is this new Gardemeister that is a good driver.......the one I have seen is nothing special at all.........

Take off the blind fold, open your eyes and crawl out from under the rock where you must have been for the last 20 years....

[Zico]

Who is this new Gardemeister that is a good driver.......the one I have seen is nothing special at all.........

Are you saying hes cr4p then?

He has the experience req, he's a solid performer and achieved some repectable results with Ford. He may not be of Marcus or Sebs caliber.. but then who else thats available really is?

If you were Suzuki Boss.... who would you have signed Ste?

[Finni]

He may not be of Marcus or Sebs caliber.. but then who else thats available really is?


I wouldn't speak about Toni in the same sentence with Seb or Marcus. I remember well that he was slower than Paasonen with Skoda and really nothing special with Ford Focus (it's right that this car was no more at the sharpest top but imagine if Marcus or Seb had rided it). Also his outing in private Xsara told where he lies in comparison to Duval or Loeb.

[koko0703]

Gardemeister is not better than Loeb and won't be a championship contender, but Garde is a good driver for sure. His experience with so many different cars should help Suzuki.

I'm glad to see Garde back in the works seat!

[N]

I disagree with some comments, I think that Gardemeister is a good driver, of course, not as good as Loeb, but better than a lot of drivers in the WRC today. He never had a good car or good support, first Seat, then Škoda, the only 1 year with Ford and then swapping cars, 307, Xsara in 2006 and Lancer and Xsara in 2007. He has years of experience, eg, 3rd place in 1999 NZ. In 2005 while driving for Ford, he finished 4th in the championship with 4 podiums. I believe that if he was given a chance to stay with a good team he could develop in to a good driver.

[ste898]

Take off the blind fold, open your eyes and crawl out from under the rock where you must have been for the last 20 years....

No I think it is you that has been under a rock or maybe your heads been up your hole!!!!!!!

[pino]

Ok, let's continue this nicely thank you !

[Brother John]

http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1191355,00.html

:s mokin: ;) :o :cool: official announcement!

[ste898]

Ok, let's continue this nicely thank you !

Sorry mod.........but as you can see he started throwing the crap...but thats me finished unless he does again!!

[WRCfan]

Sorry mod.........but as you can see he started throwing the crap...but thats me finished unless he does again!!

Haha, hook line and sinker Ste!
You take the bait everytime...

[ste898]

Get a life!!!!!

[Simmi]

Sorry mod.........but as you can see he started throwing the crap...but thats me finished unless he does again!!

Are you really 38?

[ste898]

And what age are you then?

[J4MIE]

What Pino said.... Tis the season to be jolly :)

[Le NaRcX]

Official:

Toni Gardemeister and PG Andersson in the drivers' seats

http://media.suzuki-wrc.com/files/Suzuki_WRC_pilots_2008_071217.pdf

[Le NaRcX]

http://media.suzuki-wrc.com/images/SX4_WRC_pilots_2008_1.jpg

[Roy]

A few seat to go and all is complete

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158198-0/official_suzuki_names_drivers_for_08_updated.html

[Leon]

In one of his interviews Monster Tajima said that he wants a pay driver. so which of the two is the one to pay? Toni or PG?

[Viking]

PG has so far a deal for Monte and Sweden according to his own website,
http://www.pgandersson.se
so Monster keeps an opening for a pay driver.

[Fischer]

Gardemeister has new site : http://www.tonigardemeister.com

[Tom206wrc]

Gardemeister has new site : http://www.tonigardemeister.com



He will have to change the name "BFGoodrich" in "Pirelli" for next year :p :

[Micke_VOC]

http://www.suzuki-wrc.com/car/e/index.html

Seems the livery is of the car is yellow/white..

Very nice...

[teufel]

Much better livery than this years' :up:

[Donney]

Looks good to me, I hope it has a better future than the other yellow liveried cars in recent years.

[Helstar]

Yellow ? Reminds me something.... xD

[RallyCat909]

Found this on YT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccgy6H5x0qE

[WRCfan]

It's good Tajima sees that the goal is far away and wants to ease into the championship. It is a realistic setting for him and I think he is going about it the right way.

Toni says he thinks he can score points, maybe no initially although this is the kind of attitude you need, aim high from the beginning and he will know also the car is young so results will possibly come gradually. Either way the manager and drivers are in a good frame of mind and as they say, 'good things come to those that wait'.


Let's hope this is the case for Suzuki!

Good luck Gardemeister and PG!

[Tom206wrc]

Until now, SX4 drivers weren't able to only match Matt Wilslow's pace so let's wait... :mark:

[c4]

Nandans replacement
http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1202541,00.html

[SubaruNorway]

I know the Japanes stay young for long but 61 years old?

[miksu]

Nandans replacement
http://www.wrc.com/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10111~1202541,00.html

so was he sacked or did his contract just run out...?

[COD]

How old is he now, feels like he's been around for ages.


32, same age as Grönholm was when he got his first Pug deal

[jonkka]

I know the Japanes stay young for long but 61 years old?

My thoughts exactly, not the kind of material who one would expect to explore new areas and find an edge. Tried and proven solutions which also mean slow and unexciting.

I wonder why the change took place, did Nandan drive for solutions that were unacceptable for Suzuki (Japanese are notoriously difficult to work with in this respect), is team's funding in shambles (as has been suggested) or was he just an advisor and this was a planned move from the start?

[Racing Ka]

It´s a always good sign when technical director retire...

[c4]

My thoughts exactly, not the kind of material who one would expect to explore new areas and find an edge. Tried and proven solutions which also mean slow and unexciting.

I wonder why the change took place, did Nandan drive for solutions that were unacceptable for Suzuki (Japanese are notoriously difficult to work with in this respect), is team's funding in shambles (as has been suggested) or was he just an advisor and this was a planned move from the start?

AFAIK Nandan was the person the team was being built around and was expected to be there for three years at least. He made some veiled comments recently, to I believe MN, which appeared to criticise the team and car. It is very strange as Nandan was responsible for the location in France for the team. Should know reason soon as contract I think is up this month.

[c4]

Nandans contract finished 31st Dec 07.