Suzuki driver hoping for opening round pointsRally driver Toni Gardemeister signed a two-year agreement with the Suzuki manufacturer team last December, a deal which has made possible the Finn's return to the World Rally Championship series.
Suzuki will be on its
maiden voyage within the series this year, with a brand new SX4 World Rally Car serving as the team's fighting machine.
"I'm very motivated (regarding) developement work and to fight for Suzuki in the events," Gardemester said.
Gardemeister, 32, spent the last two full seasons without a manufacturer's seat despite being one of the most experienced rally drivers in the WRC series. "It's very nice that someone else also give credits for my driving gifts," the Finn considered.
"I'm also not worried for my age because two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm made his first manufacturer's deal when he was over 30," he recalled.
During his career, Gardemeister has driven for the Seat, Skoda and Ford works teams, reaching a podium position six times. However, he is still striving for that elusive first victory.
"Actually I've never had a top car, not even in 2005 when I was driving with Ford. At that time they didn't put in use as much resources as they do now," Gardemeister explained.
During the forthcoming season, the main goal for Gardemeister will be to improve the Suzuki SX4 WRC and to speed up the pace as the season progresses. He's also hoping to snatch a handful of Championship points for the team.
"The SX4 is a car worth developing," he stated. "The engine is good and it's got good torque. Also the balance is good as well. At the moment it feels like the car is behaving much better on twisty roads."
The debut run for the car was last October during the Corsican round of the WRC, and the team also participated in the season finale in Wales. Following these events the team has put in much developement work into the car under the guidance of new technical leader Shusuke Inagaki, who formerly worked as main engineer for the Mitsubishi team.
"The direction of the developement work is good as the team has good spirit," Gardemeister related.
The first event of the 2008 season for team-mates Toni Gardemeister and Per-Gunnar Andersson - and for the remainder of the WRC field as well - will be the legendary Rally of Monte Carlo. For Suzuki, the event will mark the beginning of its very first full World Rally Championship campaign.
"I strongly believe we can fight for points in Monte Carlo. Hopefully the teams will face difficult conditions like mixed weather. Then our chances get better," a hopeful Gardemeister concluded.
Source tonigardemeister.com
