The Japanese team has...

The Japanese team has confirmed that two-time Junior World Rally champ Per-Gunnar Andersson will drive the second SX-4 in the outfit’s debut season in the WRC top flight.

The 27-year-old Swede has an established relationship with the firm, having won both of his world crowns in the two-wheel-drive Swift JWRC. He said: “I am looking forward to joining the Suzuki World Rally Team. It’s my first year in the WRC, so there are many things to learn.”

Veteran Finn Toni Gardemeister will join him in the new WRC car. Formerly a works driver for Skoda and Ford, he won his place after some strong showings last season in a privately entered Mitsubishi Lancer and Citroen Xsara.

Like his young team-mate, he is looking forward to the year ahead. “I am happy that I can be part of this exciting project,” Gardemeister said. “I’m sure we will have to work very hard together, but also that we will have a great future.”

Behind the scenes, technical director Michael Nandan has left the squad. The ex-Peugeot engineer joined Suzuki in November 2006 to develop the SX-4, overseeing its WRC debut last year in Corsica and on the Wales Rally GB. He is to be replaced by chief engineer Shuske Inagaki.