Proton launches the Proton R3 Rally Team for 2011 season!!

Earlier today I have posted about the Proton Motorsport launching and as I have mentioned the highlight of the launch was the Proton R3 Malaysia Rally Team season 2011 IRC and APRC car challenges. For the 2011, Proton Rally team will compete a full 2011 season for both Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) which was officiated by Youth and Sports Minister Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

The first outing for the team will be the Monte Carlo Rally that will be held 18th to 22nd January 2011 and as a sign of entering this season, Proton’s MD has placed the plaque bearing the Monte Carlo Rally on the stage. For Proton IRC challenge, the team car will be led by former Subaru WRC driver Chris Atkinson while for APRC team, the team will be led by Alister McRae which will have their first outing with Malaysian Rally in April 2011. Besides that, during the media Q&A, the media was informed that the Renault sources engine that will be powering the Proton Rally team car has seen a significant upgrade in terms of horsepower where the car now pushes 305hp up from the previous 278hp.

During the launch also, Proton R3 Rally team has received two new sponsors that contribute RM500,000 each namely Yasmin Group and also Sime Kansai Paints which were also Proton current vendors. Besides that, during the launch today, Proton has showcases the trophy of their race winning for 2010, where Proton Rally Team has achieved a 1-2 finish at the APRC’s season ending rally of China together with a second place finish at Rally of New Zealand. During the Q&A session, Proton’s MD has answered a question stating that Proton has set a higher target for this season and they are expecting a podium finishes in both IRC and APRC event.

With this New Year and the team’s morale is in high point, I would like to wish good luck to Proton R3 Rally team especially to both of its top drivers.