S-WRC: Proton displays its ambitions

The season started like a dream for Proton. Having decided to concentrate its efforts within the framework of WRC, and no longer the IRC, the Malaysian manufacturer was very close to securing its first S-WRC victory on its first outing in Monte-Carlo thanks to the performance of Swede Per-Gunnar Andersson. However, this was done during the next event, in Sweden. “ The car is only halfway through its development and we are managing to win rallies at the highest level. This is fantastic news », rejoiced Chris Mellors, director of Proton. Proof of the good basis that the Satria Neo S2000 constitutes, the car won the Asia-Pacific rally championship with Alister McRae in 2011, his Australian teammate Chris Atkinson finishing runner-up.

Datuk Razak Dawood, head of Proton's Motorsport branch, is also confident about the future. “ We were close to securing our first victory at Monte-Carlohe recalls. Unfortunately, an outbreak of fire in the last stages deprived us of it. The success in Sweden was therefore very pleasant and testifies to the efforts made by the team, in particular in terms of the development of the engine carried out during the tests carried out this winter by MEM. In line with our philosophy of “involvement to be better”, we proved that our car was good and that the team was capable of fighting with the best. » Ford and Craig Breen, its spearhead and current leader of the ranking, are warned.