Rally of Great Britain : Suzuki confirms Sebastian Lindholm will drive their all-new SX4 WRC2007 on Wales Rally GB

Suzuki confirms Sebastian Lindholm will drive their all-new SX4 WRC2007 on Wales Rally GB

Suzuki competing in 2006 Wales Rally GB as part of FIA Junior World Rally Championship

Les Kolczak

11 September 2007, 7:22 pm

At the 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show, Mr. Toshihiro SUZUKI, Board Member and Senior Managing Executive Officer, Automobile Engineering, confirmed that Sebastian Lindholm will drive the recently launched SX4 WRC 2007 on Wales Rally GB.

Sebastian "Basti" Lindholm (born 30 January 1961 in Helsinki) has won the Finnish national rally championship eight times; 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. He is the cousin of Marcus "Bosse" Grönholm.

Sebastian’s last visit to Rally GB was in 1998, when he finised fifith overall in a Ford Escort WRC. He also contested the Manx Rally in 1994, co-driven by Phil Mills in a VW Golf.

Mr. Toshihiro SUZUKI, commented: ""Driving performance" which is central to all Suzuki's global strategy cars, comes from Suzuki's motorsport DNA. As we have already announced, Suzuki will enter the WRC on a test basis next month and its first full season in 2008. This year’s test runs with the SX4 WRC car will be piloted by tarmac specialist Nicolas Bernardi at Rallye de France and gravel expert Sebastian Lindholm at Wales Rally GB. We look forward to their performance in a machine that has been honed to the highest level.”

Useful links: http://www.suzuki-wrc.com/interview/tajima/e/index.html

Sebastien Loeb has won Rallye Monte-Carlo for a sixth time following a dominant performance behind the wheel of the Citroen DS3 WRC he shares with Monegasque co-driver Daniel Elena.

Of the 74 starters who began Wales Rally GB in Llandudno on Thursday 10th November, 40 were classified at the end of the four-day,1860 kms rally which featured 23 timed special stages as it wound its way from the North coast to the ceremonial finish in Cardiff.

As this year's Wales Rally GB - the final and deciding round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship - draws to a close, Business Minister, Edwina Hart has announced a funding package of £1.4 million for the 2012 event.