Suzuki Sx4

[Daniel]

F2 was never really a stepping stone to the top for drivers. It was more of a stepping stone for manufacturers. It was way way way too expensive for it to be a driver stepping stone. And technically they are quite different. F2 was basically a 2wd NA WRCar and some of them were apparently more expensive than WRCars in their day....

[StevoEvo]

F2 was never really a stepping stone to the top for drivers. It was more of a stepping stone for manufacturers. It was way way way too expensive for it to be a driver stepping stone. And technically they are quite different. F2 was basically a 2wd NA WRCar and some of them were apparently more expensive than WRCars in their day....

Well I would call it a stepping stone to the top. How else would you get there these days(Unless your Wilson Jnr)? Either through F2/S1600 or Grp N.
I agree with you about the cost of the later F2 cars such as the Peugeot and Citroen Kit Cars,(the tarmac racers) which were highly advanced, and as you said very expensive.
It's only progresion I suppose, similar to the Grp A cars to the current WRC models. Take the early F2 category when we had the likes of the Opel Kadett's, VW golf's, Skoda Felicia's etc, pretty basic in comparison to the kit cars and alot cheaper.

These following drivers that I know of started in F2 or Grp.N

F2 TO WRC/GRP.A
Makinen-F2 Sunny>>>>>>>>>>>>>Escort Coswort Grp A
Rovanpera-F2 Ibiza>>>>>>>>>>>>Corolla WRC
Hirvonen-F2 Golf>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Focus WRC
Burns-F2 309>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Legacy Grp A
Loix-F2 Astra>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Corolla WRC
Gardimister-F2 306>>>>>>>>>>>>>Octavia WRC
A.McRae-F2 RS2000>>>>>>>>>>>>Legacy Grp A

S1600 TO WRC
Loeb-Saxo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Xsara WRC
Sordo-Saxo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Xsara WRC
Atkinson-Suzuki>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Impreza WRC
Duval-Puma>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Focus WRC

GRP.N TO WRC/GRP.A
Gronholm-Celica GT4>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Celica GT4Grp A
Martin-Escort Cosworth>>>>>>>>>Celica GT4 Grp A

But suppose the during the great Grp.B times the likes of Sainz,Kankkunen,Auriol etc were obviously starting in the then 2nd teer Grp.A!!!

Although C.Mcrae made the biggest leap I think from a private Nova into a Grp.A Sierra Cosworth and did well, when he did'nt crash lol

[Daniel]

F2 TO WRC/GRP.A
Makinen-F2 Sunny>>>>>>>>>>>>>Escort Coswort Grp A
Rovanpera-F2 Ibiza>>>>>>>>>>>>Corolla WRC
Hirvonen-F2 Golf>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Focus WRC
Burns-F2 309>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Legacy Grp A
Loix-F2 Astra>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Corolla WRC
Gardimister-F2 306>>>>>>>>>>>>>Octavia WRC
A.McRae-F2 RS2000>>>>>>>>>>>>Legacy Grp A

As far as I know Makinen drove a Sunny GTI-R which was a Grp A car.

I think tbh you're taking things to extremes. I could trace by driving experiences to a Fiat 131 but if I got a drive with a WRC team I wouldn't say that it was a development car for me. Every driver in the WRC can probably trace their driving career back to a 2L FWD car at some stage but it's hardly a developement series. Back in the F2 days the budget required to buy a whole F2 season was a lot and I'm sure it was a lot harder to get the budget for it back then. S1600 = development series because it's comparitively cheap but F2 was never really that cheap.......

BTW Atkinson did drive a Suzuki S1600 but it wasn't where he developed. That was Group N for sure.

[cut the b.s.]

Makkinen drove a GpA Sunny GtiR, and I believe a Gp A delta before the F2 Sunny, but it was the F2 Sunny that really brought him to prominence IMO, he was incredible in it

[jonas_mcrae]

this tread has really evolved from the susuki to the steping stones game LOL

[AndyRAC]

Lets get back on thread, personally I think Suzuki will probably be like Hyundai, Seat; the odd flash of promise but in the end they will flatter to deceive.

[StevoEvo]

Yes your right Daniel, sorry, Makinen did use a Sunny GTiR on the Monte in 92 and maybe other later events, not to sure. But it was the 94 1000 lakes that stood out, with a brilliant result for Tommi.
I was'nt takin things to extremes, just standing by my opinion that F2/S1600 is indeed a development stepping stone for young drivers looking to get into the WRC, by learning the world events and honing their driver skills.Then naturally they have to get used to a faster car, with different handling characteristics. But I'd sooner employ a driver that has come through the ranks than a driver with little experience...
How would you say is the way a young driver get's a top drive with a top WRC team in this day and age?

BTW Atkinson prob did do Grp.N as did many drivers..

[StevoEvo]

Makkinen drove a GpA Sunny GtiR, and I believe a Gp A delta before the F2 Sunny, but it was the F2 Sunny that really brought him to prominence IMO, he was incredible in it

RAC, flying with no windscreen and still doing fastest times springs to mind lol Pure talent....

[Mr_xl_Lancia_lx_]

(Yo I'm new to this forum lol and it's my 1st post)

I disagree but I can see where you are coming from Andy.

Suzukis success in the JWRC has shown they mean business, and they have made clear their intentions to ultimately win the WRC, and I think in a couple of years time, that may well be possible.

To boost your argument a bit, I will just put light on the fact that Seat had quite a lot of success in the 2 Litre Class, but in in the WRC they were pretty weak...so that could be on corse to happen again...but i doubt it and which firm will almost definately have the bigger budget? Suzuki...plus the decision was taken right from the very top so I think Suzuki can make it happen in the near future.

[StevoEvo]

Lets get back on thread, personally I think Suzuki will probably be like Hyundai, Seat; the odd flash of promise but in the end they will flatter to deceive.

Do you know if Suzuki has more financial backing for the WRC than Seat and Hyundai, which was run by MSD did? Hope so, would like to see them evolve into a top team in a few yrs and not run out of cash