The World Rally Championship, as it now stands, is not in the best of situations. René Isoart, Clerk of the Course for the Automobile Club de Monaco which organised the first round of the season, went so far as to say last month that "the WRC, it seems, has its future behind it."

WRC regulations bring about major expenses for the teams that do not offer enough media attention in return. An introspection is therefore necessary, with important changes being the result in order to ensure the continued existence of the series.

Suzuki seems to have understood the situation. The Japanese constructor, an active particpant in the World Rally Championship this year, is also looking into the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The development of a Suzuki SX4 Super 2000 is presently in the works. Such a decision will allow the constructor to reinforce the IRC grid, but also prepare its future since rumours have been indicating that the next world rally cars will return to a Super 2000 base.

For the time being, Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima, boss of Suzuki Motorsport, has not confirmed a long-term commitment to the WRC. He did however confirm to our colleagues at Autosport that ratification of a Suzuki SX4 Super 2000 was scheduled for 1st July and that it could make an appearance on the stages of Rally New Zealand in August.

No one can predict the future of the WRC, bu the IRC's seems to be on the road to prosperity. Peugeot and Fiat cars mostly form the present grid with their 207 and Grande Punto models, but they will soon have to deal with the competition coming from drivers racing aboard cars such as the Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Auris... and Suzuki SX4.