MEM consider a two car Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 entry for IRC Monte Carlo 09 and also plan to enter Condroz-Huy with Bouffier

MEM World Rally Team boss Chris Mellors has told Motorsport News that he wants to enter two Proton S2000's on the Rallye Monte Carlo in January to compete against the Punto's and 207's.

Bryan Bouffier retired from Rally d'Antibes earlier this month with an engine fault that couldn't be rectified during the event but Bouffier has stated that the car has been "transformed" since the event by damper settings adjustments and changes to the gearbox ratios.

Bouffier was sixth ater the first day in Antibes but was withdrawn after the car's engine lapsed onto three cylinders, after he accidentily over-revved the unit during a pre-event test, and the problem couldn't be cured.

Mellors commented to MN about the engine problem and the plans for Monte:

Bryan set some pretty impressive stage times and it's hurting us inside knowing what he could have done without the problem. We tried everything to get to the bottom of it but it wasn't possible.

We're now pushing hard to get two cars out on the Monte. It would be my dream although we'd only do it with two top drivers."

MEM is also planning to enter Bouffier on the Condroz Rally before conducting further testing in France at the end of the year.

Other interesting drivers entered for Condroz include Sebastien Ogier in a Citroen C2 R2 Max (in place of Simon-Jean Joseph) and Gilles Schammel who will be entered in a SYMS run Group N Impreza.

Bouffier testing the Proton in the Alps during September:

Meanwhile, a third Proton Satria Neo S2000 is under construction at MEM's Bakewell base.

Images: memuk

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