APRC: Atkinson joins Proton for Asia-Pacific Championship

Former Subaru WRC factory driver, Chris Atkinson, has joined Proton for the 2010 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

The 30-year-old Australian will race a Proton Satria Neo S2000 for the Malaysian manufacturer, which has already confirmed Alister McRae in a second car.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to drive the next generation of rally car,” said Atkinson. “I’m really excited about the year ahead. I’ve tested the Satria Neo S2000 briefly in Britain and it’s a very, very good car. I’m looking forward to working with PROTON and Alister in the year ahead. To be honest, I can’t wait to get started on the first event.”

The APRC begins with Proton’s home event in Malaysia later this month and Chris Mellors, team manager of the Proton R3 Rally Team, is looking forward to fielding one of the strongest driver line-ups in the championship’s history.

“Chris Atkinson is going to bring another dimension to the team,” Mellors said. “He has shown what he can do at the highest level of this sport and it’s great news for Proton that he’s joining us.

“We’re a real Asia-Pacific team now: a Malaysian manufacturer with a native Australian driving one car and a Scotsman living in Australia in the other. There’s no doubt, this is going to be an exciting season for Proton and all concerned with the programme. But, right now, the focus is on getting Alister and Chris more time in the Satria and getting everything ready for our home round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.”

Watch the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship on Motors TV (Sky Channel 413, Virgin Media 545) in 2010.


Andy Wilkinson

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