Proton motorsport division, Proton R3 has formally unveiled the S70 R3 race automotive that it’s going to discipline within the upcoming Sepang 1000KM race that’s happening subsequent month on the Petronas Sepang Worldwide Circuit, in addition to its line-up of drivers it has enlisted for the race.
The nationwide carmaker’s motorsport division confirms what our ears have heard in prior teaser content material Proton has launched with regard to its S70 R3 racer, which is that the automotive does certainly home the 1.6 litre naturally aspirated, inline-four cylinder S4PH engine, and never the turbocharged, 1.5 litre inline-three cylinder engine as featured within the roadgoing S70 that’s accessible for normal sale.
The rationale for utilizing the naturally aspirated Campro engine is an easy one – technical rules of the MTC class that Proton is getting into within the Sepang 1000KM with the S70 R3, stipulates the usage of a naturally aspirated engine with a most capability of 1,600 cc. Due to this fact, the usage of pressured induction engines – such because the setup within the common manufacturing S70 – isn’t allowed.
The choice to make use of the 1.6L Campro engine as an alternative of changing the 1.5L three-pot for pure aspiration is as a result of that engine was designed to work with pressured induction, and to make it work as a naturally aspirated engine would require vital redevelopment.
As well as, the technical ruleset for the MTC class permits the usage of engines from the identical producer, and utilizing the prevailing 1.6L Campro engine additionally meant the good thing about confirmed gear, because the powertrain had been used within the division’s previous race vehicles together with the Satria Neo, Preve, Suprima S, Iriz and Saga, and with appreciable success, having amassed 5 wins on the Sepang 1000KM.
Utilizing an present powertrain additionally meant that growth prices may very well be saved, whereas information from racing the engine may be utilized to the in any other case new racer, and growth in different areas of the automotive may very well be expedited as a result of its powertrain has come from a race-winning recipe.
This strategy is adopted elsewhere, too, as as an illustration, Toyota has constructed their GR Yaris Rally1 competitors machine with the engine from a special mannequin, particularly the 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from its predecessor, and never the 1.6 litre G16E-based engine as featured within the present roadgoing GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
Technical specs of the 1.6L Campro engine within the S70 R3 race automotive haven’t been formally revealed, nonetheless prior iterations of this unit employed within the aforementioned Saga and Iriz race vehicles have been recognized to output within the area of 200 hp, despatched by way of a five-speed ‘canine field’ handbook transmission to the entrance wheels.
Whereas the automotive proven right here stays unadorned in its silver paint, the eventual racing livery to be run on the 2024 Sepang 1000KM can be that of the Malaysian Touring Automobile present unit displayed in Might, stated Proton.
Below the pores and skin, the S70 R3 retains the street automotive’s suspension format, being of MacPherson struts in entrance and a torsion beam setup on the rear. Suspension {hardware} on this automotive continues the usage of Ohlins TTX items, as with the Iriz and Saga R3 race vehicles beforehand campaigned.
Rolling inventory is a set of 15-inch Raxer RP10X flow-formed alloy wheels, shod in Hankook Ventus TD 195/55R15 tyres, whereas brakes are Alcon calipers entrance and rear, on slotted discs.
Within the cockpit, the automotive displayed right here options the Recaro RMS Carbon seat for the driving force, together with widescreen show by Motec housed in a full carbon-fibre dashboard and inside door playing cards; the Iriz and Saga race vehicles tailored their respective manufacturing vehicles’ dashboards.
Proton R3 will discipline two vehicles on the 2024 Sepang 1000KM, bearing the numbers 81 and 82, respectively. Automobile 81 can be pushed by Syafiq Ali and Fahrizal Hasan, whereas Automobile 82 can be pushed by Ariff Azmi and Alister Yoong.
Proton Saga, Iriz race vehicles
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