Basso braced for challenge

The Italian, 37, is embarking on an expanded programme of Intercontinental Rally Challenge events with the Malaysian car make at the wheel of an uprated Satria Neo Super 2000.

He said: “It’s good to be out competing again in the IRC, it’s a very strong championship and this week’s second round will, I’m sure, be a tough challenge. I have not competed on this round of the IRC before, but I do have good memories of the IRC in Spain – I won the Rallye Principe de Asturias in 2008.”

Basso, a four-time winner in the IRC, starts the event in the back of tests in Italy and on the island of Gran Canaria on Monday.

“I had a good test with the PROTON in Italy earlier this year,” Basso explained. “Since then, the team have made some changes with the car and I’m really looking forward to trying them.”

Basso and co-driver Mitia Dotta will start second on the road on the opening day of the event.