Gardemeister targets finish on Canarias

Toni Gardemeister says his only goal on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés this week will be to finish the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

Gardemeister, from Finland, is embarking on his first event running his own team, TGS Worldwide. With his knowledge of his Škoda Fabia Super 2000 limited to a little more than 30 kilometres, Gardemeister is determined to increase his experience at the wheel of the Czech machine.

“The target is to drive through the rally without problems,” said the 36-year-old. “The main thing is to treat this like rally like a test. For sure we will drive fast but we will learn as much about the cars and the Hankook tyres as we can.”

Gardemeister’s experience of the IRC is limited to a handful of outings on Rallye Monte-Carlo. He will co-driven this season by countryman Tapio Suominen. They set the ninth fastest time in pre-event shakedown this morning