by Rob Wilkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH MICHEL NANDAN: CLICK HERE
Michel Nandan is the technical manager at the
Suzuki World Rally Team and is responsible technically for all the business relative to the all-new SX4 WRC car. We caught up with the former Peugeot and Toyota man at the
end of October when he spoke exclusively to
Rallycourse and
Crash.net Radio about his role, the challenges it encompasses and more...
Crash.net:
Michel, Suzuki has been preparing to step up to the ‘senior' level in the WRC since February 2006, all that preparation is now beginning to come good. What have been the main engineering and technical challenges for you?
Michel Nandan:
There is still a lot to do because even though the car has been designed – and the base is there, there is still a lot of testing to do. So far we haven't done so much, even though, we started to test at the beginning of the year. Also to reach the level of our main competitors because they have been in the business for some years and because they have a lot of experience with their cars, it is going to take time. But that is normal for this business. We have to make progress from testing and with development items, and that is a bit difficult. Normally you can see much more the problems when you start to rally. I think it is good then that this has been done and that we have started to do it [and took in the Rallye de France-Tour de Corse]. Work can continue now and this is the only way to improve the car.
Crash.net:
How has the challenge with SX4 WRC differed from when you were working on the Peugeot 307 WRC?
MN:
The SX4 WRC from its dimensions is quite a good compromise for a World Rally Car. This is quite positive. The lay-out is quite conventional and the engine is a good base. This will give a good opportunity to the engine development engineers.
![Suzuki boss, Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima and Michel Nandan, Suzuki's technical manager [Pic credit: Suzuki World Rally Team]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/401712.jpg)
