Final weekend noticed the 2024 Sepang 1,000 km (S1K) endurance race being gained by a privateer as all three works entries hit hassle. Amidst all of the chaos, the Proton R3 crew managed to salvage a decent fifth at school within the new S70 R3 Malaysian Touring Automotive (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 characteristic anyplace within the high 4 in qualifying. The lead #81 automotive 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 automotive, which was sidelined on account of a technical challenge, dropping over 40 minutes within the pits and dropping down the order because of this. Yoong – son of former Components 1 driver Alex Yoong – and Ariff fought again valiantly to complete in twenty seventh total and fifth within the high MTC class, an encouraging end result 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 powerful efficiency on the 2024 S1K race. Whereas we focused one other total win, the crew was conscious of the daunting activity that lay forward to compete with a model new automotive towards groups who had competed in races for the final three years and had been a lot additional forward on the automobile improvement curve.
“Finally, we have now no complaints though an accident early within the race brought about the retirement of automotive 81 whereas a technical challenge in automotive 82 brought about it to lose time within the pits and dropped it out of total rivalry. So whereas the ultimate end result may have been higher, numerous information 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 automotive will probably 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 constantly within the struggle on the high 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 tip.
In the meantime, the #37 Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Vios was scuppered by a good longer stoppage than the #82 automotive, ultimately ending 53rd and seventh at school. Out in entrance, the #1 automotive 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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