Dealer Team Suzuki is hoping Briton Leon Pesticcio will steer the team closer to the 2004 Kwik-Fit/Pirelli British Rally Championship Teams' title on the Trackrod Rally, 2-3 October. Pesticcio is replacing regular driver Guy Wilks in its Super 1600 Ignis for the Yorkshire-based event as Wilks is forced to miss the event due to his involvement in the Italian round of the Junior World Rally Championship on the same weekend.
Pesticcio (Bridgend, South Wales) has a good pedigree in the British Super 1600 class, finishing second in the 2003 championship, but mechanical failures have cost him the chance of repeating that success in 2004. He is partnered by regular co-driver Tim Sturla (Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire) and is delighted with the opportunity to test his driving ability in the Ignis.
He said: "I'm thrilled to have been given this opportunity to demonstrate my ability in the Ignis, as it has proved to be the fastest Super 1600 car in this year's championship. Dealer Team Suzuki is the most professional team in the championship and I'm going to give it my best shot."
Dealer Team Suzuki, which is backed by Shell/Helix, Clarion, Suzuki Finance, PIAA and Mondial, is currently second in the 2004 Kwik-Fit/Pirelli British Rally Championship British Teams' Championship, behind M Sport (Mathew Wilson - Ford Focus WRC). Pesticcio added: "The team have a great chance of winning the Teams' Championship and I'm hoping to be able to contribute to that success. The Trackrod Rally is an important event for both myself and Dealer Team Suzuki and I'm positive we can produce a good result."
Dealer Team Suzuki's Team Manager, Risto Laine, admitted to being impressed by Pesticcio's speed in this year's British Super 1600 Championship.
He said: "Leon has been one of the fastest non-Suzuki drivers in this year's Super 1600 British Championship, so we're delighted to have him in our car for this event. Leon isn't in a position to challenge Guy for the drivers' title, so he is the perfect choice to help us in our quest for the drivers' and teams' championships."
Jonnie Wigmore (Ford Puma) is the only Super 1600 driver who can beat Wilks to the Drivers' title but needs to score maximum points in the Trackrod event. Added Laine: "If
Leon wins the Trackrod Rally Super 1600 class it guarantees Guy winning the Super 1600 British Drivers' title. But rallying is a sport which demands the utmost respect and the team, Leon and Tim will not take anything for granted."
Pesticcio has been rallying for six years, including stints in both Group N Mitsubishi and Fiat Punto Super 1600 cars. In 2003 he won the Super 1600 class of the Tempest Rally to confirm his second place in the Super 1600 Championship.
In 2003 Pesticcio won class honours in the Red Kite Rally driving in the Peugeot 206 Winter Cup, to follow up his overall victory in the event in 2002 when driving a Group N Mitsubishi.
In the Junior World Championship, Wilks and Pugh are now leading the race for the title with two rounds left going in to Rally Italia, based in Sardinia, 2-3 October. The British duo hold a slender two-point lead after victory in Rally GB.
