Suzuki Juniors face the final fight on the JWRC Rallye de France – Tour de Corse 2008

Posted by Chris Harrold 8 October, 2008

swift.jpg picture by C4B

The Junior World Rally Championship hosts its final round this year on the Rallye de France-Tour de Corse, the place where Suzuki driver P-G Andersson was crowned Junior World Rally Champion for the second time last year.

Andersson has now moved up to the top class of rallying with Suzuki, which
indicates how the series can be considered as a true springboard for future
talent.

swift1.jpg picture by C4B

This year, Suzuki Sport Europe drivers Michal Kosciuszko and Jaan
Molder represent the marque on the Junior series with the Swift Super 1600, together with Suzuki Rallye Junior Team Germany driver Florian Niegel. All three of them will be aiming to make the most of their last chance to impress this year.

Additionally, Suzuki France will be entering a Swift Super 1600 for local driver Pierre Marché, co-driven by Julien Giroux. Marché, the winner of the French Suzuki Rallye Cup 2007, is a 'wild card' entry on the JWRC in Corsica and he too gets a chance to prove himself on the world stage thanks to Suzuki.

swift4.jpg picture by C4B

Corsica is an event that has always suited the agile Super 1600 cars,
because of its notoriously twisty roads and tight corners. All the regular
Suzuki drivers are well up to speed on asphalt thanks to having competed on the Rally de España only the weekend before. Corsica is somewhat different in character, as the average speeds tend to be lower and there are more tight corners.

The surfaces are also bumpier, meaning that suspension set-up
will be crucial. As with all asphalt rallies a key element of being quick
comes from knowing how to cut the corners in the most effective way. But it
is important not to cut these corners too deeply, as it can be easy to pick
up a puncture and lose lots of time.

swift3.jpg picture by C4B