Zoom Andersson scores one point for Suzuki

The SX4 WRC of P-G Andersson has scored a World Rally Championship manufacturers' point for Suzuki in Argentina after an extremely challenging event featuring some of the worst conditions in recent memory.

Just three stages made up the final day, but two of them were the most legendary and difficult of the whole event: Giulio Cesare and El Condor. These two stages reach an altitude of more than 2000 metres through the foothills of the Andes. There is often dense fog, and huge rocks that can catch out the unwary.

In these challenging conditions, P-G Andersson set an eighth-fastest time - beating many more experienced competitors and hinting at the potential of the SX4 WRC on a clean run with no problems.

The Swede's visibility was hampered through the El Condor stage as his windscreen misted up in the damp conditions, but he eventually finished the rally to score a precious manufacturers' point for Suzuki.

Toni Gardemeister re-started the final day in order to rack up some test kilometres but unfortunately he was not able to make the finish.

This year's Rally Argentina - which took place in the southern hemisphere's learly autumn - presented the crews with an unprecedented range of weather conditions, meaning that only eight of the original 14 World Rally Car starters made the finish.

Both drivers experimented with set-ups on the soft and wet stages, concentrating on learning as much as possible for the future. The first day of Andersson's rally was halted by a turbo boost pressure sensor failure, while a suspension breakage stopped his consistent run on day two. He got to the end of the final day with no major problems.

Gardemeister had a reliable run on the opening day before hitting a rock that was on the racing line in the afternoon. He re-joined for day two but was held back by a combination of hydraulic and electronic problems that prevented him from completing the leg. The Finn managed to complete most of the stages over the three days of the rally and has acquired some valuable information to help the SX4 WRC's development.

The Suzuki SX4 WRCs arrived in Argentina with some bodywork modifications to cope with the watersplashes, as well as a revised head gasket. Both of these evolutions worked successfully, and the team was able to continue its testing programme on what is still only the fourth event of the SX4 WRC's first full season.