Proton aiming to continue fine APRC form in Queensland, Australia
Following a strong show in the opening round at Malaysia, Proton is now hoping to continue its fine form in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship’s (APRC) next round to be held in Queensland, Australia this weekend.
Proton’s drivers, Chris Atkinson and Alister McRae, drove their Satria Neo S2000 rally cars home in first and third placed finishes respectively in the previous round, putting Proton top of the Manufacturer’s Championship with 35 points. The duo also occupy strong positions in the drivers standings with Atkinson being first on 33 points and McRae third on 21 points.
In addition, Proton is also currently leading the two-wheel drive manufacturer standings for the APRC Rally Cup, and the APRC Junior Championship after an outstanding debut by the Japanese-based Proton Cusco Rally Team whose drivers had raced Group N Satria Neo cars to a one-two victory in Malaysia.
“After an encouraging start to the year in Malaysia, we are looking to build on that with a similar result in Australia. Australia is a very important market for Proton and country with a very big sporting tradition. It’s nice that we go from competing on our home round of the championship in Malaysia to competing on Chris Atkinson’s home round of the championship,” said Proton Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.
This weekend’s trip is not Proton’s first visit to Queensland, and the two drivers will indeed wish to banish the ghosts of last year’s outing, as both were forced into retirement despite comprehensively dominating most of the race. Victory ultimately eluded both that day, as Atkinson’s car stalled in a water crossing, while McRae damaged his car after hitting a large rock.
“There’s a real feeling in the team that we’re coming back to finish what we started in Queensland last year. We were really quick last time out, but we didn’t get the result. We want to change that this time,” said Atkinson.
“Competing in front of the home crowd does bring an extra element of pressure and expectation but nobody expects more from me than I do myself. The roads over here are really good, and it rewards big commitment from the driver, which is what you want. There’s no doubt it’s going to be a big battle, particularly with Alister [McRae]. Alister was fast here last year, as he was in Malaysia earlier this year, so he’s certainly going to be one for us to watch.”
The rally has received a record entry of 96 cars, including 16 overseas participants, representing 10 countries. Run over three days, the rally will cover 19 special stages with a competitive distance of 230.79km driven over gravel. In addition to Atkinson and McRae, Proton’s flag will also be flown by the Proton Cusco Rally Team, who will have Japanese driver Akira Bamba – who won the class in Malaysia – and multiple APRC champion Karamjit Singh, both piloting Cusco’s specially tuned Satria Neo 2WD.
Meanwhile, in a run-up to this weekend’s rally, the Satria Neo S2000 was pitted against a Eurocopter BK117 in a promotional “Rally Car versus Helicopter Race”, an event which Proton had won last year. The race against a helicopter with twice the number of engines and five-times the power output, saw the Satria Neo S2000 narrowly beaten 3 to 2 runs down the runway at the Sunshine Coast Airport in Marcoola.
Pictures: Official Proton release.
