Suzuki SX4 WRC

Last updated
Suzuki SX4 WRC
Toni Gardemeister - 2008 Rallye Deutschland 3.jpg
Category World Rally Car
Constructor Suzuki World Rally Team
Technical specifications [1]
Length4,135 mm (162.8 in)
Width1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height1,450 mm (57.1 in)
Wheelbase 2,550 mm (100.4 in)
Engine J20 1,995 cc (121.7 cu in) I4 turbo charge
Front transverse
Transmission Five-speed sequential
4-wheel drive
Weight1,230 kg (2,711.7 lb)
Tyres Pirelli
Competition history (WRC)
Notable entrants Flag of Japan.svg Suzuki World Rally Team
Notable drivers
Debut Flag of France.svg 2007 Tour de Corse
RacesWins Podiums Titles
17000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Suzuki SX4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Suzuki World Rally Team by Suzuki in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Suzuki SX4 road car, and was debuted at the 2007 Tour de Corse. [2]

Contents

Competition history

World Rally Championship

Toni Gardemeister's Suzuki SX4 WRC at the 2008 Tour de Corse. Toni Gardemeister - 2008 Rallye de France SS5.jpg
Toni Gardemeister's Suzuki SX4 WRC at the 2008 Tour de Corse.

At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Suzuki announced it would enter the FIA World Rally Championship, with the factory backed Suzuki World Rally Team in the World Rally Car category in 2007, using the SX4 WRC with AWD and the J20 engine producing 320 PS (235 kW; 316 hp) and 590 N⋅m (440 lb⋅ft) of torque. [3] However, due to WRC calendar changes Suzuki officially debuted in 2008, using the season of 2007 as further development time for the SX4.

The SX4 competed on a test basis in two 2007 WRC events: the Rallye de France in October 2007 (finishing 31st overall) and the Rally GB in November 2007 (finishing 27th overall). [4] In the first event of 2008, the Rallye Monte Carlo, Suzuki driver Per-Gunnar Andersson finished eighth. [5]

Hillclimbing

A race car called 'Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special' was used at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It was a specially adapted Suzuki SX4, with a twin turbocharged 3.1 litre V6 engine producing 910 hp (679 kW; 923 PS) and 890 N⋅m (660 lb⋅ft) of torque. Driver Nobuhiro Tajima won the event in Suzukis for six years running, the last three of which were in the SX4 HCS, and set the track record time of 9:51.278. [6]

Rally results

Complete World Rally Championship results

YearCarNoDriver12345678910111213141516WDCPointsTCPoints
2007 Suzuki World Rally Team 19 Flag of France.svg Nicolas Bernardi MON SWE NOR MEX POR ARG ITA GRE FIN GER NZL ESP FRA
31
JPN IRE 00
Flag of Finland.svg Sebastian Lindholm GBR
27
0
2008 Suzuki World Rally Team 11 Flag of Finland.svg Toni Gardemeister MON
Ret
SWE
7
MEX
Ret
ARG
Ret
JOR
Ret
ITA
Ret
GRE
9
TUR
Ret
FIN
8
GER
10
NZL
7
ESP
13
FRA
13
JPN
6
GBR
7
13th105th34
12 Flag of Sweden.svg Per-Gunnar Andersson MON
8
SWE
Ret
MEX
Ret
ARG
24
JOR
Ret
ITA
9
GRE
11
TUR
Ret
FIN
Ret
GER
15
NZL
6
ESP
32
FRA
17
JPN
5
GBR
5
12th12

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References

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  2. "Suzuki SX4 WRC". e-wrc.com. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
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  4. "Suzuki World Rally Team". 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  5. "Loeb clinches record Monte win". Autosport . Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  6. Woodyard, Chris (27 June 2011). "Video: Monster Suzuki blows away Hyundai on Pikes Peak". USA Today. Retrieved 31 December 2011.