Welsh rally driver and current MSA British Rally Championship leader Tom Cave has received a second call-up as an official works driver for the PROTON Motorsports team for this year's UK round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. The 20 year-old recently dominated the Rally of Thailand, his first event as an official PROTON driver and is, according to Team Principal Chris Mellors, "One of the sport's brightest young stars."
Cave, and co-driver Craig Parry, are no strangers to PROTON - Tom campaigned a works-supported private Satria Neo Super 2000 on selected events in 2010 and was asked to represent the marque on last month's Rally of Thailand, which he won by more than ten minutes.
He is also extremely familiar with Rally GB; he shot to fame in 2008, when he famously took his driving test, and therefore gained his necessary licence, just 10 days before the event began. His success, followed by numerous TV and radio outlets, led to him winning his class on his WRC debut by more than 15 minutes.
Cave will be in good company driving a PROTON over the weekend of September 14-16. He will partner Swedish star Per-Gunnar Andersson on Rally GB while former team-mate and reigning Asia-Pacific Champion Alister McRae will compete on the Hokkaido Rally with Juha Salo, as the brand aims to clinch both the FIA SWRC and Asia-Pacific rally titles.
Speaking after the first of two pre-event tests in Wales, Tom said; "I am thrilled to be selected to drive for PROTON again. I am glad that the job we did in Thailand gave the result that was needed and honoured that the team and PROTON has faith in us for such a crucial event.
"I've done Rally GB three times in the last four years - I didn't do it last year as I was concentrating on winning the BTRDA Production Cup at the time. But the first in 2008 was amazing, when we won our class by more than 15 minutes. Then, in 2009, I was thrilled to be awarded the Richard Burns Trophy, as he was one of my heroes.
"We did the event in our Proton in 2010 and were lucky enough to spend some time at a Proton dealer before the event, meeting some of the team and chatting to customers. So it will be amazing to be back in a Proton on home ground.
"We had a good pre-event test this week; we're fairly familiar with the car after Thailand but of course, Wales in September is very different. We did a lot of miles and got a good start point for the set-up so we're really looking forward to the event.
"The only regret is that Dad isn't here to see this - he would have been so proud." Tom's inspiration and team manager, father Peter Cave, sadly passed away earlier this year.
PROTON Motorsports Team Principal Chris Mellors said; "British rally fans need no introduction to Tom Cave. He's leading the British Rally Championship at the moment and is one of the sport's brightest young stars. He showed tremendous maturity in the way he won in Thailand earlier this year and his home SWRC round next month will provide him with a genuine chance to showcase his talent on rallying's highest possible stage."
The event retains a format similar to last year's, beginning in Llandudno on Thursday 13 September and travelling the length of Wales, to end in Cardiff on Sunday 16 September.
