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The new Subaru Impreza R4 rally car will contest a partial programme of events in this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge, according UK publication to Motorsport News.

Toshi Arai will tackle rallies in Corsica, the Azores, Hungary, Scotland and Cyprus with the factory-backed car. Fumio Nutahara, Patrik Flodin and Jari Ketomaa are also expected to contest events with the car later in the year. Subaru has also entered the IRC manufacturers' series with the machine.

The double FIA European Rally Champion will join two-time Junior World Rally Champion P-G Andersson at PROTON, ensuring the Malaysian team will field arguably the strongest driver line-up in the series.

Basso tested the Satria Neo S2000 for the first time in Italy earlier this month – and immediately felt comfortable in the British-prepared car. He will join Andersson for six asphalt rounds of the IRC this season (Rally Islas Canarias, Prime Yalta Rally, Geko Ypres Rally, Rali Vinho Madeira, Barum Czech Rally Zlin, Mecsek Rallye and Rallye Sanremo).

The 37-year-old completed 300 kilometres of testing in two days and will return to the PROTON for a further two days of running before his debut with the team on Gran Canaria next month (April 14-16).

PROTON Motorsports tested further drivers in Italy, with a third factory-supported Satria Neo S2000 likely to be running on selected IRC rounds later this season.

Giandomenico Basso said:
”I am very happy to join PROTON Motorsports. When I drove the car in Italy, I felt two things: I felt the car was good and I felt a warmth in the team – I know I can work well with PROTON. The engine felt strong straight away, we have some small work to do to get power into different areas, but it’s good. The car was also easy to drive, which is really important, especially when you have events which can have changeable conditions – it gives you confidence. We know we have some work ahead in order to improve the overall perfomances to bring the Proton Satria close to the top group and we are excited about that. I’m really looking forward to the first event with the team, everything is very positive and it’s great to be back working with a manufacturer.”

Alister McRae said:
“The car is definitely stronger coming to the start of the first event. We drove it for the first time over the weekend, in the same place that we did a test last year and immediately it felt very, very good. For example, where we had to go down to first gear to get out of tighter corners last year, we’re able to leave the car in second and the improved torque lower down really pulls the car away and out of the bend.”

Chris Atkinson said:
“The dampers are such an important part of the car – they’re what connects everything to the road. Already from the first time you drive the car, you can feel improved traction and stability from the PROTON. That feeling translates into
more confidence and more speed from the driver, it’s fantastic. I can’t wait to get the event started now!”

Chris Mellors (team principal) said:
“Just from talking to the guys, you can see the way they feel about the work we’ve been doing over the last couple of months. It’s tremendously exciting to be starting the season in APRC. We have been working with the Reiger engineers, developing this new system, while simultaneously improving the linear-nature of the power development and we’ve come out of the winter with a very, very competitive car. Like the guys are saying, we can’t wait to get going!”