Proton S70 R3 Achieves 5th Place at Sepang 1,000KM, Race car set for KLIMS Showcase.

The Proton R3 team demonstrated resilience and determination during the 2024 Sepang 1,000KM (S1K) endurance race, securing 5th place in the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) class despite facing early setbacks. The race, held from November 22 to 24, saw the new Proton S70 R3 make its competitive debut, marking a significant step in Proton's motorsport journey.

Performance Highlights

The Proton R3 team fielded two cars: #81, driven by Syafiq Ali and Farique Hairuman, and #82, piloted by Alister Yoong (son of ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong) and Ariff Azmi. The #81 car faced an unfortunate early retirement due to a crash on lap 8. Meanwhile, the #82 car encountered a technical issue, leading to over 40 minutes lost in the pits. Despite this, Yoong and Azmi made an incredible comeback, finishing 27th overall and 5th in the MTC class, showcasing the potential of the new sedan.

Reflections and Future Plans

Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar, expressed optimism about the team’s performance: “Ultimately, we have no complaints although an accident early in the race caused the retirement of car 81 while a technical issue in car 82 caused it to lose time in the pits and dropped it out of overall contention. So while the result wasn't what we hoped for, a lot of data was collected over the weekend and finishing fifth in the MTC class has laid the groundwork for R3's preparation for the 2025 racing season.”

Results

The 2024 S1K saw Hirev Dream Chaser's Suzuki Swift Sport claim overall victory. Trailing behind, Wing Hin Motorsports's Toyota Yaris takes second place and the last spot in the podium goes to the Honda Fit by Tedco Racing.

Honda Racing Malaysia had a double retirement, with its City Sedan breaking down at the last 10 laps of the race. Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia's Vios wasn't doing well too with technical difficulties holding them back, finishing in 53rd overall and 7th in class. 

Upcoming Showcase at KLIMS 2024

Proton has confirmed that the #82 S70 R3 will be displayed at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) from December 5 to 11, giving us a closer look at the new race car.

The S70 R3’s debut signals a new chapter in Proton's motorsport legacy, which includes six S1K wins and a history of producing performance-focused models like the Satria Neo R3. With lessons learned from this race, the R3 team hopes for a more competitive 2025 season.

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