The factory Proton effort will double in number for the first time this season when Bryan Bouffier joins Guy Wilks in the Malaysian manufacturer's team.

Bouffier, who gave the Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 its competition debut last season, will contest Barum Czech Rally Zlin with the fledgling squad. The agreement is currently for the eighth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge only.

"It was always the plan to run a second car and Bryan is a great driver to have on board because of his experience," said Chris Mellors, whose MEM operation is responsible for Proton's IRC campaign.

Proton's best result since joining the IRC on June's Belgium Ypres Rally is the fourth place Wilks recorded on Rally Russia last month.

"We've got ideas of how we can go even faster," Wilks added. "It is still a new car and the most important thing for us is to get to the finish of each event so we can build the experience."