The
Suzuki World Rally Team got a two-car finish on the Acropolis Rally of Greece last weekend, the first time this season
both of its cars have gone the full distance.
It wasn't the only positive for the Japanese manufacturer either, as
Toni Gardemeister and Per-Gunnar Andersson also both secured manufacturers' points, increasing the team's tally from seven points to ten.
Indeed Suzuki had one of its SX4 WRCs in the top ten for the duration of the seventh round in the World Rally Championship, with team manager Paul Wilding declaring it very much a case of mission accomplished.
"The team has achieved its objectives here on probably the toughest rally the World Rally Championship will encounter all season," he reflected. "It's been amazingly rough in places, but Suzuki and the SX4 WRC has encountered less problems than many of its rivals.
"We have picked up manufacturers points with both cars and set some great times along the way. All-in-all, this has been a very good event for us. We go home from here happy and looking forward to the challenges which lie in wait."
Toni Gardemeister meanwhile was especially pleased to get to the end of the Athens-based round, as his last - and previously only finish - with the SX4 WRC was back in February when he was seventh in Sweden.
He may have had some problems, including a power steering failure in SS10 on Saturday and a lack of power on the repeat loop on day two due to exhaust damage, but he still set eight top ten times in total.
"We've had a good day today," said the Finn. "The dust has been quite bad on some of the stages. With the very hot conditions and the rocky roads, when there is no wind around, you know the dust can stay around. I was pleased with the car.
"Today the engine felt very good. This rally shows we are going in the right direction with the car and making very good progress."
