Rally Mexico, round three of this year¹s World Rally Championship, will mark an important milestone for Toni Gardemeister and Suzuki.

For Gardemeister, Mexico is his 100th World Rally Championship start, while for Suzuki it is the SX4 WRC¹s first competitive appearance outside of Europe as well as the first round of this year¹s championship to be held on gravel.

Having started his World Championship career on the 1996 Rally Finland, Gardemeister is also the factory driver who has been competing on the series for the longest amount of time despite the fact that he is still only 32 years of age!

The action is sure to be fast and furious on the colourful Rally Mexico, but once again Suzuki finds itself facing a steep learning curve. With the last test event on gravel for the SX4 WRC coming at the 2007 Rally Great Britain, the team and drivers will have to try to find the correct set-up as they go along.

Mexico is a crucial event as it is the first World Rally of the year to be held in normal gravel conditions, following the slippery asphalt of Monte Carlo and the icy slush of Sweden. The information gathered in the heat and dust of Mexico will be vital for the many gravel events that are still to come.

The Mexican stages have a number of peculiarities however. With some stages peaking at more than 2000 metres, Mexico is the highest event on the World Championship.

The effect of this altitude is to rob the turbocharged engines of power, with cars losing up to 25 percent of their total horsepower in the thin air.

The rally is based in Leon, the leather capital of Mexico, and comprises 20 special stages totalling 353.75 competitive kilometres. For more

information: www.rallymexico.com