Five-time Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Eugene Donnelly and leading build and preparation experts  Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM) will collaborate to offer the R2 Junior category winner of the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship a funded prize drive in a Proton Iriz R5.

MEM is responsible for the manufacture of the fully homologated Proton Iriz, the only example to be ratified by the FIA in both right- and left-hand drive.

Having worked together on development projects with the car,  both  MEM  and  Donnelly  will  offer  an outstanding prize to the leading R2 category crew at the end of the season.

The R2 junior champion will receive a funded prize drive behind the wheel of the Proton Iriz R5 with assistance from Donnelly at an asphalt event which is to be confirmed in the coming months. All aspects of the event will be covered, including fuel, tyres, a comprehensive test and entry fee.

The insurance premium will also be covered by another sponsor with the exception of the excess. Donnelly, who has been using the Proton in selected events over the past year is eager to support young talent, citing the Iriz R5 as the perfect car to develop in.

“The Irish Tarmac Championship has been at the heart of what I’ve been doing for the last god knows how many years and I know what it takes for these youngsters in the R2’s to get a good result,” he says, “they really have to drive them hard and it brings talent to the top”.