Leg information:
Stages: 7 (104.48 kms competitive total)
Surface: Mud and Gravel
Weather: cloudy with intermittent rain

Solid learning experience for Suzuki in Wales

Event news:
The Suzuki SX4 World Rally Car driven by Sebastian Lindholm had no problems throughout today's six challenging special stages, which were followed by a run through the spectator superspecial at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. This unique stage is the only one on this year's World Rally Championship to be entirely held indoors, and before the main event it also hosted the Suzuki Swift World Contest, for identical Swift Sport Group N cars. The winner of round two was Frenchman Nicolas Bernardi, who gave the SX4 WRC its world debut in Corsica nearly two months ago.

Lindholm started day two of the Wales Rally Great Britain under the super rally system, in order to accumulate more testing distance ahead of the SX4 WRC's first full season in 2008. Today's action consisted of 104 competitive kilometres, on loose and muddy gravel surfaces made wet by overnight rain.

Car news - Suzuki SX4 WRC No.19:
The Suzuki engineers tried out several different suspension and differential settings on the SX4 WRC today, in order to maximise traction and grip in the slippery conditions. There was no repeat of any of the brake problems that halted Lindholm yesterday, and plenty of useful information was gained.

During the opening loop of three stages, Lindholm said that the car felt slightly nervous on the straights. The Suzuki engineers solved this problem at service by adjusting the suspension set-up.

Driver news:
Lindholm enjoyed the challenge of getting to grips with the Rally Great Britain stages again, having last competed on the event back in 1998 when he finished fifth.

"It feels like yesterday!" he joked in the service park at Swansea. "In terms of development, we are more or less where we expected to be. Of course we are trying different things all the time, but that is why we are here. Testing on a real rally is much more revealing than simply testing at a private venue. If you are on a test stage, you very quickly learn the road and you can compensate for any problems that might arrive. On a real rally, every corner is different. We've really enjoyed today, but we are not looking at the stage times: it's all about development."

Team news:
The Suzuki World Rally Team was satisfied with the reliability of the car and all the work that was carried out today.

Nobuhiro Tajima, team principal, commented: "Once more the conditions on this extremely fast rally have been a really big challenge, but Sebastian and Tomi have kept a calm head and done exactly what we asked of them. By completing all of today's stages, we have gained a lot of set-up information that will be crucial for the future. Tomorrow's stages are even longer than today's distance, so we hope to continue our learning programme at the same sort of pace in order to accomplish our mission here in Great Britain. We are not so interested in the stage times, but finishing the rally and gaining information."

Great Britain
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