PROTON boss optimistic despite Atkinson exit

PROTON Motorsports’ head Chris Mellors says he has every reason to be satisfied despite Chris Atkinson’s retirement on the opening stage of Rallye Sanremo, round nine of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Speaking during the regroup Mellors said the pace of Giandomenico Basso in the Malaysian team’s other Satria Neo S2000 had given him plenty of cause for optimism.

Italian Basso was eighth overall and a little more than 20 seconds off the leading pace when he spun on stage five. After stalling his engine he lost more time trying to select reverse gear. As a result he dropped to ninth overall to the extent he is now more than one minute off the lead.

“We’ve closed the gap dramatically [to the leaders] so we’re quite happy,” said Mellors. “It’s not a very easy rally at all, the terrain they’ve got here is as demanding as any. But the pace shows how far the car has come one what is one of our weakest events. I’m now hoping he can claw back some of the time he’s lost in the night stage with his knowledge.”

Of Atkinson’s retirement Mellors said it was still too early to confirm the reason for his retirement: “He’s had a problem with the car, which we need to check. It’s a bit sad that he has gone out on the first day but that’s life. He won’t be restarting on Saturday because there’s no point risking the car for the next round in Scotland. But for sure he could have been in the top if it wasn’t for the problem.”