Suzuki's first full season of the World Rally Championship got underway with the two SX4WRCs of Toni Gardemeister and P-G Andersson crossing the start ramp at Valence this evening before facing two tricky special stages in the dark. Having set top-10 times during both stages, Gardemeister finishes the opening day in a provisional points-scoring eighth place.

Following the first 21 kilometres of the event and his World Rally Car career, P-G Andersson is 12th - despite completing most of the action with just two-wheel drive.

The opening stage, the 28.12 kilometres of St Jean en Royans - Col de la Chau, was extremely fast and slippery, due to snow that had melted during the day and turned to ice in the cool temperatures. The second stage was more technical, suiting the SX4 WRC better on only its third-ever rally. The Suzuki SX4 WRCs also had to deal with a lot of loose snow pulled onto the road by previous cars, having started the rally eighth and 10th on the road.

At the end of Suzuki's first full day of World Championship rallying, both cars are safely at the finish with some valuable lessons learned for the future. The SX4 WRC has again set top 10 times today, with P-G Andersson finishing 11th overall and Toni Gardemeister 14th.

Andersson had a clean run throughout the day, although he encountered a small gear selection problem in the morning and also stalled at the start of SS5. Gardemeister's progress was not quite so straightforward, as he had to cope with a loss of boost pressure in the morning (which was fixed by the Suzuki mechanics at midday service in Valence) and then a lack of engine response in the afternoon.

Today's roads were mostly dry, with only a few damp places and a number of flat-out sections that pushed drivers and cars to the limit. In these rapid conditions, the Suzuki SX4 WRC proved itself capable of setting top 10 stage times once more, underlining its clear potential for a points finish on its debut.

On its very first event, the Suzuki SX4 WRC of P-G Andersson has finished the third day of the Monte Carlo Rally in a provisional points-scoring place. The cars have set quick times in the top eight all day, including a brilliant fifth-fastest time from P-G Andersson on SS9.

At the end of the third day of the event, Andersson is in a points-scoring eighth place but Toni Gardemeister has been forced to retire due to an overheating problem, after completing all the special stages. Today was the longest leg of the four-day event, comprising 443.26 kilometres in total and 132.78 kilometres of special stages.

Both Suzuki SX4 WRCs had no major problems throughout most of the day: an excellent achievement in what is only the very start of the Suzuki World Rally Team's first full season. Tomorrow the crews face another 66.95 competitive kilometres over the legendary Col de Turini and a spectator superspecial using parts of Monaco's Grand Prix circuit, before the finish in front of the Principality's Royal Palace at 15:30.

Suzuki driver P-G Andersson has finished an excellent eighth on his WRC debut in a World Rally Car, marking the start of the Suzuki World Rally Team's first season in the top category of the sport.

Despite some small problems on the opening leg, the young Swede set a fifth-fastest stage time and proved himself regularly capable of posting times close to the frontrunners. After nearly 400 competitive kilometres over ice, snow and some flat-out asphalt mountain roads, P-G and Suzuki have the satisfaction of a top-eight placing.

Toni Gardemeister was on course to join his team mate in a points-scoring finish, having completed all but five special stages of this challenging event. Unfortunately the Finn was forced into retirement at the very end of the penultimate day, but he too managed to set a sixth-fastest stage time and prove that the new Suzuki SX4 WRC has the pace to run towards the front.

The final day's action saw the crews complete two loops of stages over the legendary Col de Turini, where thousands of spectators traditionally gather to cheer on their heroes. Andersson concentrated on consolidating Suzuki's first points finish, before the rally concluded with a spectator superspecial stage using parts of Monaco's famous Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.