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 | 20th Italian Baja: Champion Codecà rises to the challenge with Suzuki
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The "Italian Baja" will take place in just four weeks (15th/17 th March), kicking off the 2012 FIA World Cup, as it represents its first race, as well as the Italian Cross Country Championship.
An irreplaceable date for Lorenzo Codecà, the most titled driver among National cross country pilots: he won five championships since 2005, when he used to drive a Mitsubishi, confirming his talent also with a Suzuki through other victories in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012. The Grand Vitara 3600 cc, with a V 6 cylinder engine, could represent a terrific weapon if driven by Codecà.
"We are ready to face the new season" announces Codecà - hunting his sixth victory. "At my side there will be the navigator Bruno Fedullo again, together with the Italian Suzuki Team." Italian Baja will be the first obstacle. "It is the hardest race" explains the driver from Milan, "because our car is not the appropriate vehicle to face this kind of track."
"I’ll have to mostly drive along riverbeds and this means to drive slow to avoid stones, as they could create a serious damage to the car. Challengers driving a pick-up literally fly away, while we just have to pay attention not to break anything. When we finally reach the country route, we try to recover driving as fast as we can."
A really hard race for a competitive Vitara, as it is anyway similar to its road version. "Apart brakes, shock-absorbers and few other things, the car we will use is the same of the car you can drive every day. Suzuki wants to demonstrate how reliable and flexible its car can be."
"Our mission is to stand the Italian Baja hardness, in order to take advantage of it during all other Championship races which look like a rally. What a satisfaction to get a good result here in Pordenone, sharing the race with the elite of the World Championship. Last year the third position seized by Italian drivers sounded like a victory, just behind our challengers with their particularly equipped vehicles."
2013/02/18 | 12:43 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/RAGOGNA
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