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With its sports-minded heritage, coupled with a passion to excel in the world's most competitive venues, Suzuki Auto drives toward another motorsports challenge with its entry in the World Rally Championship (WRC). Derived from the five-door SX4 Crossover, a prototype model of the SX4 WRC was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2006.

Developed as a driver-friendly World Rally Car offering excellent controllability under a wide range of rally conditions, this creation by Suzuki Sport, Suzuki's motorsports division, has involved extensive testing on many different types of surfaces. As a supplement to the testing, Suzuki Sport chose two events in 2007, the Rallye de France and the Wales Rally GB, to closely represent the majority of surface types. The Rallye de France is known as one of the most challenging tarmac events, and the Wales Rally GB, held later in the year, is similarly well regarded.

The SX4 WRC boasts a 2.0-liter turbocharged J20 engine with full-time 4WD drivetrain and a five-speed sequential gearbox. The vehicle's 1,997 cc engine delivers 320 brake horsepower between 4,000 and 4,500 rpm, along with a maximum torque of 590 N-m (435 lb.-ft.) at 3,500 rpm.

The SX4 WRC's powertrain features a carbon three-disc clutch, electronically controlled center differential and mechanical front and rear differentials. Its well-balanced chassis and rigid structure allow the front and rear MacPherson struts with coil springs work to their full potential, while Reiger shocks deliver dynamic, responsive handling. For tarmac, the vehicle is fitted with 20/65-18 tires fitted on 8X18-inch wheels. On gravel, 17/65-15 rubber is mounted to 7X15-inch wheels.

The SX4 WRC sits on a wheelbase of 2,500 mm, stands 1,450 mm high and weighs 1,230 kg (the minimum authorized). All specs reflect those of the final-phase development-test vehicle and are not necessarily indicative of the 2008 entry. As noted by Nobuhiro Tajima, vice president of Suzuki Sport, the endeavor is still in development, including the engine, transmission and suspension.

The WRC effort builds on Suzuki's outstanding success in the JWRC, where the Swift Super 1600 has enjoyed an excellent record, creating even more excitement and anticipation in 2008.

Source - Suzuki

WRC

source: WRC.com
Preparations for the hard-fought season begin months before the first rally. The governing body, the FIA approves routes, stages and final locations of the 16 rallies around the world, and passes on a copy of the proposals to the manufacturers.

Each rally must allow two days for the reconnaissance (or recce), one day for technical checks (or scrutineering) and three days for competition. The rally is divided into three legs, and typically has between 15 and 25 special stages.

The manufacturer-backed factory teams will enter two or three cars each, and arrive on location weeks before the start of a rally for on-site preparation. The competing World Rally Cars are seeded and start the event according to their ranking, with the leader of the drivers' championship setting off first. Often there are up to 90 cars taking part - the rest of the field made up of the Junior Rally Championship (smaller, lower-powered cars for younger drivers), or the Production Car World Rally Championship and private teams.

The Recce
Driver and co-driver familiarise themselves with the stages before the start of the event. They drive the leg in a standard road-car (fitted with extra safety equipment) in the three days preceding the rally. It is here that the co-driver jots down detailed pacenotes for use on the stage itself.

The Stages
The special stages are the competitive sections of the rally - where the drivers and co-driver drive as fast as possible to achieve the quickest time. They take place on private roads or public roads, which are closed to the general public while the rally is in progress. A typical rally will have about 25 special stages over three days. The stages are linked by public roads - called road sections - on which competitors must obey all local traffic laws. Each day contains about 400km of driving - a third of which are the competitive special stages. Stages vary in length from five to 60kms, with the cars' times being recorded after each stage to the tenth of a second.

The ClockForget about 'first across the line'. WRC cars don't race directly against each other. They compete against the toughest opponent of all - time. Cars start at one or two minute intervals, racing against the clock, their times monitored and entered into the FIA computer. Unless they run into trouble, rivals rarely see each other during a stage. At the end of an event, the driver who's taken the least amount of time to complete all the stages is the winner.

The Points
Results achieved during each of the 16 rallies count towards the two FIA world championships - one for the drivers and one for the manufacturers. Drivers get 10 points for coming first, eight points for second place, six points for third, five points for fourth, four for fifth, three for sixth, two for seventh and one for eighth. A manufacturer can add up the points tally from two nominated cars.

The Time Controls
A rally itinerary is governed by a strict timetable. Drivers get time penalties for being late (or early!) to clock in to the start of the special stage and at the entry and exit of service parks. Late arrival at these controls is typically penalised with 10 seconds on every minute over and is added to the overall time of the driver. Drivers can be excluded from a rally if they are 15 minutes late for a time control, 30 minutes late for a leg or 60 minutes for an entire rally.

The Service Parks
After each group of stages is completed, the cars can visit a designated service park where repairs may be carried out by the teams under strict supervision during a 20-minute time period. At the end of each day the crews are allowed a longer 45-minute period to work on the cars before they are locked away in the guarded 'parc fermé' until the following morning's restart. Crews are punished with time penalties for exceeding these alloted times.

2008 Suzuki SX4 WRC
Year	2008
Make	Suzuki
Model	SX4 WRC
Body Style	Coupe
Engine Location	Front
Drive Type	AWD
Body / Chassis	Unitary steel
Weight	1230 kg \| 2712.2 lbs
Combined MPG	0.00

Engine
Engine Configuration	I
Cylinders	4
Aspiration/Induction	Turbocharged
Displacement	2.00 L \| 122 cu in. \| 1999.6 cc.
Valves	16 valves. 4 valves per cylinder.
Valvetrain	DOHC
Horsepower	320.00 BHP (235.5 KW) @ 4000.00 RPM
Torque	590.00 NM (435 Ft-Lbs) @ 3500.00 RPM
HP to Weight Ratio	8.5 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter	160.0 BHP / Liter
Fuel Type	Gasoline - Petrol
Fuel Feed	Fuel Injected
Block	Aluminum Alloy
Head	Aluminum Alloy
	Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Standard Transmission
Gears	5
Transmission	Sequential

Dimensions
Standard Payload	0.00
Doors	2
Exterior
Length	4135.001 mm \| 162.8 in.
Width	1770.001 mm \| 69.7 in.
Height	1450.001 mm \| 57.1 in.
Wheelbase	2500.001 mm \| 98.4 in.
	Vehicles with similar dimensions

Suspension
Suspension	Reiger shock absorbers, Coil springs and McPherson struts

Steering
	Rack and Pinion with Power Assist

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2008 Suzuki SX4 WRC