The Suzuki Team had a good start to the season in Portugal, competing in the 33rd Serras de Fafe Rally, which counts towards the Portuguese Championship. A test that includes the mythical section of Fafe of the Rallye of Portugal.
With a list of luxury entries, in which there were the official Hyundai i20 WRCs of Ott Tanak and Dani Sordo together with the main protagonists of the Portuguese national and other drivers, adding up to a total of 22 vehicles in the Rally 2 category (formerly R5). Some complicated dirt tracks and tough competition were the perfect combination to test the Suzuki Swift R4LLY S. A debut in which they worked like clockwork, not giving the slightest problem.
After the first few kilometres of timing, the Team Suzuki drivers were delighted with their new frames, and after each leg they looked more comfortable and faster with the cars.
Javier Pardo and Adrián Pérez, experts in the rally and with more experience on the ground, took over the leadership of the team, finishing in eighth place, ahead of up to six cars in the Rally 2 category. For their part, Joan Vinyes and Jordi Mercader, took the rally more slowly in their reunion with the ground, little by little they were speeding up the pace until they reached the twelfth final place.
33rd Rally Serras de Fafe
1. A.Araujo/L.Ramalho – Skoda Fabia R5 – 1:36:43,7
2. B.Magalhaes/C.Magalhaes – Hyundai i20 R5 a 1:26,0
3. R.Teodosio/J.Teixeira – Skoda Fabia R5 a 1:30,5
9. J.Pardo/A.Pérez – Suzuki Swift R4LLY S a 8:05,5
12. J.Vinyes/J.Mercader – Suzuki Swift R4LLY S a 12:35,1
