When Proton first confirmed their partnership with Geely two years ago, rumours were abound that its motorsport division, Race Rally Research (R3) had to be shut and its staff transferred to other divisions within the company. It was a pleasant surprise of sorts to see R3 surface at the Sepang 1000KM (S1K) as a works team instead of taking supporting role in the customer racing programme the year before that.
That year in 2017, R3 reigned supreme as they clinched the Overall Champion title, with Admi Shahrul and James Veerapen piloting the #82 Proton Suprima S R3 to victory ahead of 2016 champions Tengku Djan Ley and Keifli Othman. The following year, teammates Fariqe Hairuman and Syafiq Ali took the win at the wheel of the Iriz R3 race car.
Did Geely really intend to shut down Proton R3 out of disinterest in motorsport, then? paultan.org was invited to the team’s shakedown session at the Sepang International Circuit ahead of the Malaysian Championship Series which enters its third round of the season this weekend, and we got to have a chat with Proton R3 team principal Gary Lee to find out about R3’s future direction, now that Proton is under the Geely banner.
Geely has never trivialised the value of motorsport, according to Lee; in fact, the firm has considered the world of motor racing to be a valid way of building an automotive brand’s image. We only need to take a look at the group’s luxury division – Cyan Racing, which had previously competed in the World Touring Car Championship, has returned to competition in the WTCR series with the Lynk & Co 03 sedan.
On top of that, Geely has reportedly purchased the Utah Motorsport Campus in the United States that will serve not only as a race meeting venue, but also to facilitate testing. Proton R3 now also has a direct working relationship with Geely Motorsport for matters relating to the field, Lee said, adding that Geely Motorsport has in fact come to visit Proton R3 and stated that the Malaysian outfit is experienced and rich in motorsport heritage; no small compliment, with Lotus also present at the family table.
For instance, Volvo appointed Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) to spearhead its British Touring Car Championship effort in 1994 with the Volvo 850 Estate race car, while in the case of Proton, the Malaysian outfit resides directly under Proton’s organisational roof with their own facilities within Proton’s Shah Alam plant, located close to Proton’s own main R&D division.
Though the R3 name only came to be in 2003, Proton’s motorsport division actually dated back to the Eighties, when it was known as the Petronas EON Racing Team, or PERT in short. It was from this platform that Malaysia’s own Karamjit Singh, the ‘Flying Sikh’, was thrust into the limelight thanks to victories which saw him crowned WRC champion for the 2002 season in the Production class, also known as Group N.
The ‘Research’ part of the R3 name extends the outfit’s scope of work beyond the rigours of rally and circuit racing, and also serves to augment Proton’s research and development unit with data gleaned from the realm of motorsport, which is applied to the mainstream division’s development of road-going models.
The ‘Handling by Lotus’ badge of Proton models past may come to mind, but the finely honed ride and handling manners of a Proton are the result of the work put in by R3 engineers – experts of the craft in their own right. This expertise enables Proton to release high-performance models such as the Proton Satria R3, as well as the subsequent Satria Neo Lotus Racing edition and Satria Neo R3.
Where to next, for Proton R3? While the motorsport engineering and research division is currently still funded by Proton and not by Geely, R3 is now being closely monitored by the China-based automaker. For now, possibilities are limited as Proton remains focused on recovery for the time being.
This means that a full factory-backed return effort to the global or regional motorsport scene, the Asia Pacific Rally Championship for example, isn’t quite on the cards yet. However, we now know that the Proton Race Rally Research division is alive and kicking, and with Geely keenly observing, there’s certainly room to grow. Watch this space.
GALLERY: Proton R3 customer racing programme
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Geely is working very hard to makes Motorsports a success.
As we can see, Geely and the British are doing the hard work to make the R3 a success
Proton just syiok sendiri and tumpang glamour
What did geely do for R3 for now? Nothing!
Show some respect to those fellow malaysians in R3 that kept the motorsport fire alive.
No point having this division when the whole company as a whole is losing money and have taken more than RM20 billion in bailouts just to keep the company afloat.
This money is tax payers money which could be used to build hospitals and schools.
Better to have more hospitals and schools than sustain a loss making division.
Mellor do all the work. Locals go to UK and try to learn from Mellor but they cannot understand subject matter and unable to understand transfer of technology. Most of the time say, “tak paham”
Where did you get that fake news from? Mellors racing outfit is separate and has no ties to R3. R3 developed their own racing pedigree without external support.
Just like people ‘tak paham’ why so many jobs in this world, you go and become a troll. And a low-paying troll nonetheless.
You can see from his empty postings above, he is desperate to meet his quota or he will have to live of Maggi for rest of the month. Pity him just a lil bit bro.
Tahniah P1! Now ur racing with the racing development big boys league!
P1, Geely, Mesidis, Volvo Car, Volvo Trucks, Lotus, L&C, Polestar, SMART > all
As I told you earlier, why Proton is more successful nowadays unlike previous years? Because most of the companies work hard about contributing about the project such as making rally cars with weight reduction, making faster performance with powerful engines and so on. Besides that, Proton is also contributing advertisement project for university students. This will ensure to get back sales to be better and making way back to top no.1 sales. Same goes to other EU Companies, China Cars and Ford, because they do their projects like researching and development projects for newer generations models, making faster engine with carbon reduction, making projects about rally cars. All these is why they are successful.
Support Proton, Geely, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Peugeot, Renault, Ford, Haval, Borgward, Mitsubishi > all
Unabated rush of nationalism and patriotism among Malaysian public, saw our family, friends and neighbors to buy a Proton car again. The brand is not merely value for money. Asides from the superior X70, much improved Proton Saga, Iriz, Persona and Exora facelift models sales spiked sky high. Superb quality inside out , from the exuberant driving experience to the headline grabbing price … Anything that helps keep Malaysia’s flag flying high I would be most supportive of. Make Malaysia Greatest again !
Thank China really. It is Geely cars. Now even Proton cars tak laku anymore and will be phased out completely and replaced with X50 and so on
Heritage that is extremely under utilize apart from making some after market bumpers and stickers.
” Malaysian outfit is experienced and rich in motorsport heritage ”
Now we know why the previously unwanted and unappreciated Proton Putra WRC was recently cleaned up.
It was to be shown to impress the new owner. Looks like it is worthwhile in the end. R3 to live on for another day!
But what actually happened all those years ago?
Who actually commissioned Prodrive to build the Putra WRC? I believe its cancellation, demise, intentionally forgotten about and hidden was due to power plays inside proton at the time. The Putra WRC if not mistaken was started by USPD, Ushasama Proton DRB, which builds proton wira aeroback, satria, putra, tiara and juara in Pekan, Pahang. It had its own motorsport team, which commisioned the Safari Rally Satria group A, and was active rallying and racing satrias, putras in malaysia. When USPD was shut down and absorbed into proton proper, that is when the Putra WRC program was cancelled. Team Proton PERT just had more political clout.
TGIF! Absolute stunning victory for P1, towards a bright new dawn! They got the very best expertise and motorsport acumen in Race, Rally and Research. Tengku Djan at the helm. Definitely Proton R3 among the richest in motorsport heritage, alongside BMW M division, Mercedes AMG and VW R. Hidup Proton!
No R3 version of the Iriz anytime soon then.
Too bad, the chassis got some potential.
To haters, hahahahahahahaha.
Did Akio Toyoda ever give such recognition to P2? Acknowledge the ultra hypercar status of demigodcar myvi?
Meanwhile, Geely has deemed R3 as worthy! Glory to Geely Empire!
ALL HAIL GEELY EMPIRE!
Double fist bump bro! Geely Motorsport together with R3 and Cyan Racing will bring each other up to the next level of motorsports. They may be diff outfits but the synergy of a common goal will unite all inc AMG.
R3, Geely Motorsport, Cyan Racing, AMG > all
All legit to put R3 decals on my X70 now =)
Double fist bump!
As per Tun’s favourite song, Proton truly is standing in the eyes of the world! What a birthday gift to him, Proton R3 is worthy!
R3, Geely Motorsport, Cyan Racing, AMG > all
Geely the saviour of proton. All hail to the Saviour.
Seeing that Akio Toyoda’s passion is for racing and Perodua has no motorsports achievement to speak of, he probably doesn’t even know Perodua is under the Toyota empire.
P2 makes profit every year. P2 pays company tax in the billions every year to the Government,
P1 got tax exemption the past 15 years because cannot make money.
Thats the difference. Government has collected over RM30 billion in taxes from P2 since its inception
But P1, Government must pay them to keep company alive.
Did they ever pay company taxes? Please show us proof of yearly P&L.
What we know is Perodua never declared any earnings so they never got taxed since they started 27 years ago.
Why? It’s because all profits they made is sent back to Japan before declaring income so therefore every financial year closing, they didn’t declare profits.
No profit, no taxes. Malaysia rugi, rakyat rugi, Perodua workers rugi, but Japan untung, rakyat Japan untung, rich country untung.
How do you know Perodua has contributed RM 30Billion in taxes? Perodua never declared their P&L so how would any general public knows how much was profited and how much taxes was paid, unless you work for them. So if you work for Perodua, why should we trust anything that a Perodua staff said about Proton?
Got make profit? When? Please show us P & L yearly account.
A game changing thank you to Li Chunrong for turning game over Proton’s table around!
Before with DRB, Proton totally game over af.
Now have Geely. It is Game on, baybeh!!
If Geely didn’t buy Proton, 1 year ago Proton already game over
You are right. Now they have to work hard. 20 yrs of goyang kaki comes to an end
Lucky we are using Geely’s brains now….otherwise, Proton already lingkup
Thank you Geely for recognizing talented and skillfully workforce hampered by previous crony decision makers and crony vendors supplying substandard parts while protected by founder and former advisor.
While mentioning Volvo in BTCC, don’t forget, Proton too has raced in BTCC as a works team with the Proton Waja. It was spearheaded by Petronas Motorsport though, not Proton itself.
Great to see them still around. I hope in two or three years we can see some R3 products again. Please don’t stop racing.
#releaseprotonirizR3
Make sure you make money first before you venture into other areas
That’s why I said hopefully in two or three years. Hope their financial will be better that time.
Paul tan,
Please do an article covering the history of Protons in Motorsport
1980s
– Saga rally
– Saga/Fiore Group B Prototype (By Ralliart Japan, very2 elusive and was rallied for only a few times)
– Saga/Iswara Group S (By PERT, with guidance of ex Ralliart Australia personnel)
– Super Saga track racing
1990s
– Wira 1.6 Group N/ Group A
– Satria 1.6 Group N/ Group A – Rally safari 1997
– Wira 1.8 special homologations
– Wira 4WD Turbo
– Satria GTi track races
– Proton Putra WRC
– Proton Putra rally USPD
– Proton PERT EVO V
– Proton PERT EVO VI
– Proton Coupe Cup (UK)
– Proton GTI Cup (australia)
2000s
– Satria 1.6 kit car 1600 harry hockly
– Proton PERT EVO VII
– Proton Impian / Waja BTCC
– Proton Waja Australian Rally Car / Merdeka race car
– Proton Satria Neo Cusco 1.6
– Proton Satria Neo Super 2000
– Gen 2 MME
– Waja MME
– Current Neo/Iriz/Preve/suprima track cars
– Iriz R2
Better do an article to see how much Proton has lost. Roughly about RM20 billion in bailouts plus about RM20 billion in not paying taxes.
So RM40 billion.
I believe there was 2 of the awesome Saga/Iswara Group S rally cars built.
The Ralliart Japan built Proton Saga Rally Prototype was a one off, and was always driven by japanese crews.
There was also a full spec Group A Proton PERT (EVO6) built but not rallied (number plate Proton 1880)
Some typo. The iriz rally car is Iriz R5, not R2.
Spot on comment. It looks like now, we are selling all our assets to China. Not bad though as China whips us to shape and ensures there is no nonsense and goyang kaki played in the opis
Thanking them for what? They bought proton and got profit… not just giving out money for free like a charity…
Funny…
At least they are smart enough to turn it around to make profit and not depending on rakyat money to bail them out
Hope they produce iriz R3.. 138hp, 205nm
They should but it is a risk that they need to take as the cost to build it is not going to be as cheap as what laymen think. Neither will be the selling price.
Also, the sales potential. Won’t help if just a few thousand are sold. Question is, how many will buy one? Most just say should make this or should make that but will never put down their money for one.
So, yes, it is a risk and maybe the company won’t take that risk at this moment. Hopefully in future, there will be a market for it.
The performance enhanced Satria Neos managed to get sold off quite quickly despite the price tag. What Iriz R3 needs is to be really special as a limited edition model.
Proton can try crowdfunding to get some financial help. Also its could be position as sort of out-of-the-box marketing tool.
More importantly, this could determine level of serious interest of the public on iriz r3 (iriz gti). Its like ‘putting their money where their mouth is’. If get enough then build it.
Just an idea.
However, 138bhp/205Nm wouldn’t suffice. Around 20% more sounds better. Much nearer to today’s proper b-segment hot hatch.
Thank you Najib for giving blessing for P1 to go with merger. Fomer advisor would never do tha same and only care for crony vendors.
You know bro. You really have to join in his empty discussion among his fake personas. Just so you know…