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Suzuki SX4 WRC - Click above for a hi-res gallery

It's only been four months since Suzuki announced it was leaving the World Rally Championship, but reports are already surfacing about its comeback. Suzuki's decision came amidst a whole slew of similar announcements, primarily from Japanese automakers, to cancel their racing programs. Honda pulled out of F1, Subaru out of the WRC, Mitsubishi out of rally raids... even Kawasaki dropped their motorbike team. But while Honda is undoubtedly kicking itself for leaving the grand prix scene one season too early, it could be Suzuki that gets back into the race first.

The reports come from the mouth of Urmo Aava, one of Suzuki's most valued rally drivers. Since the Japanese carmaker withdrew from the top-level series, he's been helping the junior team with set-up for the Suzuki Swift S1600, but the planned switch next season to the more production-car-based S2000 formula in the top-tier WRC could open the door to more automakers like Suzuki coming back to the fold, or entering for the first time. Like the one which Suzuki was campaigning until last season (pictured above), the new car would be based on the SX4, but cost less to campaign. For his part, Aava realizes he'd need to bring in his own sponsorship cash to make it happen, but if it does, Suzuki could be kickin' gravel and jumping hills by 2011. Thanks to Eralp for the tip!


Gallery: Suzuki SX4 WRC


[Source: RallyBuzz]

The Suzuki Method: SX4 S2000 in the works for WRC comeback? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>s2000suzukisuzuki rallysuzuki sx4suzuki sx4 s2000suzuki sx4 wrcsuzuki world rally teamsuzuki wrcsuzuki wrtSuzukiRallySuzukiSx4SuzukiSx4S2000SuzukiSx4WrcSuzukiWorldRallyTeamSuzukiWrcSuzukiWrtsx4wrcTue, 21 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Suzuki suspends WRC program ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/suzuki-suspends-wrc-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/suzuki-suspends-wrc-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/suzuki-suspends-wrc-program/#commentsFiled under: ,



Another one bites the dust. Today was the deadline for manufacturers to announce their intentions to race in the FIA World Rally Championship for 2009, and Suzuki saw fit to let its entry expire after just a single year of competition. The Japanese automaker calls the move a countermeasure to "the contraction of the automotive sales caused by recent global economic turmoil." In other words, fewer car sales mean less excess money for racing. Worse, Suzuki says it expects things to stay bad for the foreseeable future, so riding out the storm wasn't a possibility.

Suzuki was just beginning to see some success in WRC, finishing in the top five for the last two races of the season with its SX4 WRC racer. The manufacturer's Swift Cup will remain active in 2009. This move follows rival automaker Honda's announcement that it would be suspending Formula 1 and AMA Roadracing competition, also a result of the global economic downturn. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: World Rally Championship]

Suzuki suspends WRC program originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>suzukisuzuki sx4suzuki sx4 wrcsuzuki wrcSuzukiSx4SuzukiSx4WrcSuzukiWrcworld rally championshipWorldRallyChampionshipMon, 15 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST