Final weekend noticed the 2024 Sepang 1,000 km (S1K) endurance race being gained by a privateer as all three works entries hit bother. Amidst all of the chaos, the Proton R3 staff managed to salvage a decent fifth at school within the new S70 R3 Malaysian Touring Automobile (MTC), the #82 entry pushed by Ariff Azmi and Alister Yoong being its sole finisher.
The nationwide carmaker had excessive hopes for its sedan main into the race, regardless that it didn’t function wherever within the prime 4 in qualifying. The lead #81 automobile was taken out of the race early doorways, nonetheless, as Syafiq Ali was spun from behind and crashed right into a wall on lap 8, forcing him into retirement.
Worse was to hit the #82 automobile, which was sidelined as a consequence of a technical challenge, dropping over 40 minutes within the pits and dropping down the order in consequence. Yoong – son of former Components 1 driver Alex Yoong – and Ariff fought again valiantly to complete in twenty seventh general and fifth within the prime MTC class, an encouraging consequence after a five-year hiatus.
“Crew Proton R3, its drivers and the Proton S70 R3 have added to Proton’s proud racing heritage by delivering a robust efficiency on the 2024 S1K race. Whereas we focused one other general win, the staff was conscious of the daunting activity that lay forward to compete with a model new automobile towards groups who had competed in races for the final three years and have been a lot additional forward on the automobile growth curve.
“Finally, we have now no complaints though an accident early within the race brought about the retirement of automobile 81 whereas a technical challenge in automobile 82 brought about it to lose time within the pits and dropped it out of general rivalry. So whereas the ultimate consequence may have been higher, numerous knowledge was collected over the weekend and ending fifth within the MTC class has set a baseline for R3 to launch its assault on the 2025 racing season,” mentioned Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.
Proton says it has not selected the S70 R3’s subsequent aggressive look; nonetheless, the #82 automobile might be displayed on the Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Mobility Present (KLIMS) from December 5 to 11.
The 2024 race was gained by Hirev Dream Chaser within the #1 Suzuki Swift Sport ZC32S pushed by Hayden Haikal, Rahul Raj Meyer dan Daim Hishamudin. Ranging from fourth on the grid, the trio was persistently within the battle on the prime because the bigger carmaker-backed groups confronted technical troubles. Nailed-on favourites Honda Malaysia Racing Crew (HMRT) suffered a double retirement, the #27 Metropolis Sedan grinding to a heartbreaking halt whereas main late on, simply ten laps from the top.
In the meantime, the #37 Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Vios was scuppered by a fair longer stoppage than the #82 automobile, ultimately ending 53rd and seventh at school. Out in entrance, the #1 automobile accomplished the 181 laps in eight hours 14 minutes, over two and a half minutes forward of the #38 Wing Hin Motorsports Toyota Yaris; the #96 Tedco Racing Honda Match RS GK5 accomplished the rostrum.
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