Toni Gademeister expected to drive a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 on 2009 (IRC) Rallye Monte Carlo

Posted by Scott Coursey 28 December, 2008

60920 02GardemeistertCorsica1308238 Toni Gademeister expected to drive a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 on 2009 (IRC) Rallye Monte Carlo

Toni Gardemeister will most likely contest this year's Rallye Monte Carlo in a Grande Punto S2000, the car is likely to be run by Italian preparation firm Astra Racing, according to autosport.cz.

Gardemeister was recently left in the lurch following Suzuki's withdrawal from the WRC on 15.12.08 and this news comes as a very welcome boost. It is not yet clear if this will be a one off drive or will lead to a bigger programme Astra.

Garde has close links with the Italian company and scored his best ever result in one of their cars on the 2006 Monte where he finished 3rd in a Peugeot 307 WRC. His best Monte result was in 2005 where he finished 2nd overall driving for the works Ford team in a Focus.

It could also end up that Gardemeister will face his recent Suzuki team-mate PG Andersson in Monte Carlo as Andersson might be competing on the event in an MEM Proton S2000.

Source: autosport.cz

Highly likely and confirmed Rallye Monte Carlo entries

Sarrazin (207 S2000)
Vouilloz (207 S2000)
Loix (207 S2000)
Basso (Punto S2000)
Romeyer (Punto S2000)
Kopecky (Fabia S2000)
Haninen (Fabia S2000)
Auriol (207 S2000-Grifone)
Scandola (Punto S2000)
Alen (Punto S2000)
Andersson (Proton Satria S2000)
Jereb (207 S2000)
Rossetti (Punto S2000)
Meeke (207 S2000 - Peugeot UK)
Wittmann (Evo 9)
Mourgues (Evo 9)
Poutot (C2R2 Max)

Gardemeister (Punto S2000-Astra)

Enjolras (207 S2000)
Baudoin (Evo 9)
Aymard (Subaru WRX)
BF Goodrich prize drive (207 S2000)
Carret (Evo 9)

Daumas (207 S2000)

Schelle (Suzuki Swift S1600)

Cluzel (C2R2 Max or just a C2R2)

Vialle (Clio R3)

Artu (Evo 9)

Possible entries

Panizzi (207 S2000)

Bouffier (Proton S2000 or 207)
Travaglia (Punto S2000)
Casier (VW Polo S2000)
Mauffrey (Punto S2000)

Mercier (Clio R3)

Outside possibilities