Proton motorsport division, Proton R3 has formally unveiled the S70 R3 race automobile that it’ll subject 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 automobile 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 out there for common sale.
The rationale for utilizing the naturally aspirated Campro engine is a simple one – technical rules of the MTC class that Proton is coming into within the Sepang 1000KM with the S70 R3, stipulates using a naturally aspirated engine with a most capability of 1,600 cc. Due to this fact, using pressured induction engines – such because the setup within the common manufacturing S70 – will not be allowed.
The choice to make use of the 1.6L Campro engine as a substitute 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 using engines from the identical producer, and utilizing the prevailing 1.6L Campro engine additionally meant the advantage of confirmed tools, 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 current powertrain additionally meant that improvement prices may very well be saved, whereas information from racing the engine could be utilized to the in any other case new racer, and improvement in different areas of the automobile may very well be expedited as a result of its powertrain has come from a race-winning recipe.
This method is adopted elsewhere, too, as as an example, Toyota has constructed their GR Yaris Rally1 competitors machine with the engine from a distinct 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 automobile haven’t been formally revealed, nevertheless prior iterations of this unit employed within the aforementioned Saga and Iriz race vehicles have been identified to output within the area of 200 hp, despatched via a five-speed ‘canine field’ guide transmission to the entrance wheels.
Whereas the automobile proven right here stays unadorned in its silver paint, the eventual racing livery to be run on the 2024 Sepang 1000KM will likely be that of the Malaysian Touring Automobile present unit displayed in Might, mentioned Proton.
Below the pores and skin, the S70 R3 retains the highway automobile’s suspension format, being of MacPherson struts in entrance and a torsion beam setup on the rear. Suspension {hardware} on this automobile continues using 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 automobile displayed right here options the Recaro RMS Carbon seat for the motive 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 subject two vehicles on the 2024 Sepang 1000KM, bearing the numbers 81 and 82, respectively. Automobile 81 will likely be pushed by Syafiq Ali and Fahrizal Hasan, whereas Automobile 82 will likely be pushed by Ariff Azmi and Alister Yoong.
Proton Saga, Iriz race vehicles
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