Proton R3 Suprima S to compete in MSS 2014
Proton’s Sales Carnival at Dataran Pantai Batu Burok, Kuala Terengganu, last week witnessed the unveiling of the company’s new track racer, the Proton R3 Suprima S Malaysian Touring Car, which will be used to defend Team Proton R3’s title at the Malaysian Touring Car Championship of the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) 2014 on 28 March 2014, during the F1 weekend.
The Proton R3 Suprima S will make its debut at the championship with the target of maintaining Team Proton R3’s strong record in the competition having won it the past three consecutive years. Also starting the championship this season will be a new look Proton R3 Satria Neo and Proton R3 Prevé race cars, the same line-up for the 2013 season.
Unlike the road-going turbocharged versions of the Suprima S, the track racer uniquely uses a naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre Campro CPS engine mated to a 5-speed F41 close ratio manual transmission. Its outputs, as you would expect, are very highly tuned, being rated at 178hp @ 7,500rpm and 224Nm @ 4,000rpm, numbers which in road-going vehicles are typically associated with 2.4-litre engines.
Structurally, the vehicle is underpinned by R3’s own unique lightweight body shell strengthened by a six-point roll cage. A front splitter and side skirts contribute to improved aerodynamics, and custom brake cooling ducts ensure consistent stopping performance. At the four corners, conservatively-sized 195/55 R15 Hankook Ventus Z221 semi-slicks wrap themselves around 15″ x 7 lightweight R3 alloy wheels.
Remarking on the new car and the upcoming MSS season, Tengku Djan said, “The Proton R3 Suprima S race car is a culmination of development work carried out over the course of the 2013 season. Our commitment has always been to excel and build on what we have achieved in the past, we want to continue with that winning mentality. The team has worked hard at identifying the relevant aspects of the cars that will enhance our race performance, and hopefully this coming season the team will be able to prove themselves yet again.”
Pictures: Official Proton release.
