Salo
gets
two
events
with
Proton

Thirty-six-year-old Salo has signed a deal with Proton Motorsports to drive a Satria-Neo S2000 in Finland and on Wales Rally GB in September, after attracting support from 15 companies. P-G Andersson, from Sweden, will drive the team’s second entry in Finland.

Salo completed a 160-kilometre test in the United Kingdom last month (pictured) in readiness for his first appearance in the WRC in a Super 2000 car. He is due to test again in Finland nearing the rally.

“I believe that we can get the best possible service and support from Proton Motorsports and I have to thank them and, of course, Gulf Oil, Teknos and all my other sponsors for helping me to achieve this biggest step yet in my driving career,” said Salo. “The Proton is a top-level car and quite different to what I have been driving before. It is much more physical to drive; you need to concentrate, to keep the revs up and you have to be more aggressive. This is a real competition car, pure and simple.

He continued: “I need to use my long experience for the team in Finland, I don’t need to push myself over the limit. The experience of the car and giving PROTON a good result is more important than anything.”