Team Proton Europe performed positively in Spain’s action-filled Rally Principe de Asturias last weekend.Read the full news from Proton’s driver Guy Wilk’s website below.
PROTON CLOSES GAP.
GUY was delighted with the promising performance of his Proton on Spain’s Rally Principe de Asturias.
The all-new Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 has closed the gap to its more establised IRC rivals to less than one second per km on tarmac.
Guy told guywilks.com: “There’s no doubt we have made a big step forward this weekend.
“The improvements to the dampers and engine are reflected in our times compared to Madeira and that just motivates the team to work even harder before San Remo.”
Guy and co-driver Phil Pugh were fifth in the MEM-run Proton before a broken driveshaft and a puncture dropped them to tenth on Friday’s last stage.
They climbed to ninth on Saturday’s first stage but went off the road on SS11.
Phil said: “We had a bit of an overshoot on a left four, which had a lot of gravel on it. We beached the car on the end of a barrier and just couldn’t get reverse, so we spent 15 minutes jacking it out. There was no damage, just a front bumper missing, but we were so unlucky.”
Guy bounced back with a string of solid times – including joint fourth fastest on SS15 – to cross the finish line in 19th place.
Jan Kopecky won the rally for Skoda and now trails IRC points leader Kris Meeke (Peugeot) by one point with two rounds remaining.
SS10 – Argame-Las Masas (11.8km) 1 Meeke 7.30.8 2 Basso +0.6 = Vouilloz +0.6 4 Kopecky +2.3 5 Loix +5.5 6 Hevia +5.7 7 Wilks +10 8 Fontana +18.2
SS11 – La Nuava La Invernal (21.3km) 1 Vouilloz 14.55.1 2 Basso +1.0 3 Kopecky +1.3 4 Meeke +1.5 5 Hevia +8.3 6 Loix +12.7 7 Fontana +27.4 8 Solowow +34.9 Wilks 30.05.8
SS12 – Blimea-La Casilla-el Corvero (11.9km) 1 Vouilloz 8.07.9 2 Meeke +5.8 3 Kopecky +7.4 4 Hevia +8.7 5 Loix +10.2 6 Fontana +18.3 7 Solowow +19.5 8 Wilks +22.2
SS13 – Argame-Las Masas 2 (11.8km) 1 Vouilloz 7.25.0 2 Meeke +0.4 3 Kopecky +1.6 4 Loix +2.3 5 Basso +7.4 6 Hevia +7.8 7 Wilks +9.7 8 Fontana +16.4
SS14 – La Nuava La Invernal 2 (21.3km) 1 Vouilloz 14.45.8 2 Basso +9.3 3 Meeke +9.6 4 Kopecky +9.9 5 Loix +13.2 6 Wilks +14.6 7 Fontana +33.1 8 Solowow +40.5
SS15 – Blimea-La Casilla-el Corvero 2 (11.9km) 1 Basso 8.13.7 2 Hevia +2 3 Loix +2.1 4 Meeke +3.8 = Wilks +3.8 6 Kopecky+4.2 7 Maurin +11.4 8 Fontana +13.4
Jom komen!