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The all-gravel Wales Rally Great Britain is the final round of the Junior World Rally Championship, where no fewer than six drivers will fight for the title! Four of them P-G Andersson, Guy Wilks, Urmo Aava and Jozef Beres - are at the wheel of a Suzuki, underlining the speed and reliability of both the Swift and the Ignis.
Andersson and Wilks are at the forefront of the title fight, determined to push as hard as possible on the fast and challenging Welsh roads. Both drivers tested their Swifts this morning at the short shakedown stage near Swansea, which was a last-minute opportunity to try out the car, finalise set-up and assess the slippery conditions.
At the start ceremony outside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this evening, all 120 crews crossed the start ramp in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The real action starts at 0917 on Friday however, with the first of 17 demanding stages through the scenic countryside of Wales. This is the first time a World Rally has been run in December since 1986, so the unknown but certainly tricky weather conditions will be a big factor in the breath-taking battle for the title.
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P-G Andersson (2nd in JWRC points table)
"It's going to be a very close fight with some many people in contention for the title! We're very focussed on what we have to do, and I am more determined than ever to succeed now. This rally won't be easy as the roads are sure to be very slippery and we can expect heavy rain at some point. It's important to be quick but sensible at the same time. The crucial thing is to be there at the finish, and I am sure that the reliability of the Swift will help us with that."
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Guy Wilks (4th in JWRC points table)
"It's obviously a tremendously exciting event for me, being my home rally. With so many drivers fighting for the championship, I think it will be quite a tactical rally. Ultimately the only thing I can influence is my own performance as everything else is entirely out of my hands. My aim is to try to win the event, but I am not sure what the correct strategy will be in order to do that. We'll have to wait and see. Whatever happens, I think it is fantastic for the championship to have such a healthy level of competition. I'm really looking forward to getting started now: the stages are fantastic."
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Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima, team principal
"We come to the end of what has been an extremely close and exciting year, full of drama and excitement. At the end of it, we have four Suzuki drivers capable of taking the title - three of them in a Swift and another in an Ignis. I think that says a lot about the pace and consistency of our cars, and I am incredibly proud of everything that our entire team has achieved. The last rally of the year in Britain is also one of the toughest, and the weather conditions are likely to be a decisive factor. I would like our drivers to remain concentrated here and focus on the bigger picture. You do not have to win every stage to win the rally, and a sensible approach is going to be necessary. I have no doubt about the speed of our drivers and the quality of their equipment, so may the best man win!"
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