French Rally: Campana confirms Suzuki Rallye entry

Up-and-coming Corsican driver Pierre Campana is to contest the highly-popular Suzuki Rallye Cup in France this year, which is backed by France's motorsport federation, the FFSA.

Campana, who stunned World Championship regulars by finishing on the Junior World Rally Championship podium of the Tour de Corse last year, finished third in the 2008 Suzuki Cup, and he is aiming to do even better this year.

The 23-year-old's car will once more be run by a team from Suzuki's main dealer in Ales, France: Rougier Sport, which continues to back Campana this year along with French oil company Yacco. Campana's most recent outing resulted in a podium place in class on the Rallye Vins de Champagne last week.

The Suzuki Rallye Cup has already proved its credentials as a direct route to World Rally Championship competition, with well-known French drivers such as Yoann Bonato using it as a springboard to the world stage. The series consists of six rallies in France, all of which are held on asphalt.

"I'm very happy to be competing on the Suzuki Rallye Cup again, which has already underlined its credentials as an excellent training ground for the future,” said Compana. “I'd like to thank Rougier for their valuable continued support, and I hope we can make them proud this year.

"Last season we were third in the Cup, so there are obviously only two ways that we can improve on that! We will definitely be pushing hard from the start."

Catch the Suzuki Rallye Cup on Motors TV throughout 2009.