Proton R3 to defend title in a brand new car during 2018 race

TEAM Proton R3 (R3), winners of the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race (S1K) in 2017 will be defending its title in the 2018 edition of the event with a new car spearheading its efforts.

The Proton Saga will be competing in the S1K for the first time alongside the Proton Iriz in a two-car effort that R3 hopes will bring a second consecutive and fourth overall race win for PROTON.

The Proton Saga was PROTON’s first model and therefore the car that introduced the PROTON brand to the world. It was also the first Proton used by the Company in motor sports.

From circuit racing to rallying, the Proton Saga competed in a wide variety of events, winning against more fancied opponents and bringing fame and glory to Malaysian motorsports and PROTON.

Aside from manufacturer backed efforts, the Proton Saga is also the car of choice for budding racers to get their first taste of competition. Its affordable price, robust mechanical components and long production run mean it’s easy to obtain a unit and modify it for competition use.

There are numerous events still catering to the car including the MSF Saga Cup, which has classes for beginners, advanced drivers and racing professionals who all drive the Proton Saga.

For the 2018 edition of the S1K race R3 built a race car based on the current version of the Proton Saga, which was launched in 2016.

The high torsional rigidity (now 12,000Nm/deg from 10,000Nm/deg previously) of its body makes it an ideal platform for competition use while its balanced handling and proven mechanical package are suited to a 1000km race where cars are tested to the limit over 181 hot and fast laps.

“The Proton Saga has a long history of competing and winning in various motorsports competitions and the S1K is the perfect platform to reintroduce Proton fans to our R3 racing division while reminding them about the racing heritage of our best-selling model.

This will be the first time the current Proton Saga will be competing and it will be racing against very stiff competition but we believe in the ability of R3 to develop a competitive machine,” said Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.

PROTON’s Motorsports Division, Proton R3, was established in 2003. Specialising in the research, development and production of race and rally cars, R3 has also been responsible for limited-edition R3 road cars as well as parts and accessories carrying the R3 brand name.

Over the last 15 years, they participated in and won some of the most prestigious motorsports events both in Malaysia and throughout the region.

Highlights include winning the Merdeka Millennium Endurance event in 2005 and 2006 as
well as three victories at the S1K race in 2012, 2014 and last year, 2017.

For this year’s campaign, the R3 race team will be made up of 21 crew members as well as 15 students from DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia in Pekan, Pahang.

The four drivers who competed for the team in 2017 have been brought back with the winning driver pairing from 2017, consisting of veteran Admi Shahrul and James Veerapan,
given the task of trying to repeat their victory at the wheel of the all-new Proton Saga.

Fariqe Hairuman and Syafiq Ali will race in a Proton Iriz, which was on track for victory last year when a minor mechanical issue cruelly robbed them of glory.

“While some teams may have three drivers per car, Proton R3 has chosen to go with just two as we want to maximise the amount of time each has behind the wheel.

This allows them to build a good rhythm, which is important for setting consistent lap times in such a long race. Typically, races like the Sepang 1000KM require teams to go flat out for the
first few laps before driving at a predetermined pace to preserve the car and components such as tyres and brakes,” said Gary Lee, Team Principle of Proton R3.

“Consistency and reliability are vital to winning as pushing too hard can cause mechanical issues. We know it’s very difficult to make up for lost time in the pits, but by fielding two competitive cars Proton R3 was still able to win in 2017.

This year we aim to get both cars on the podium, a tough task as the Proton Saga is a brand new car, but with teamwork and a little bit of luck, I am confident of adding more glory to the company’s record of racing success,” he added.

Michelin and Petron have successfully educated more than 5,000 students on tyre safety to date with their most recent event at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), marking the fifth stop of their Road Safety Programme.

THE collaboration, which aspires to raise awareness on the importance of tyre in the vehicle and knowledge on basic tyre safety, particularly on air pressure information and how to measure tread depth, has already taken place at five Malaysian universities, namely Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, School of Professional and Continuing Education (UTMSPACE); Universiti Malaysia Pahang; Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA); UiTM Johor; and UNITEN.

It proved to be a success with UNITEN students, most of whom benefited from the interactive and informative session.

Student Nurul Husna Zainal Abidin said, “Before this, I was only mindful of checking tyre treads but not their depths. Now, I know the precautionary steps to take care of my tyres. I hope Michelin and Petron continue this meaningful programme for years to come.”

Another student, Amir Ridhwan Ahmad Fauzi, added, “The event was effective in making me realise the importance of tyres to road safety.

Knowing how to check tyre pressure and wear is essential for students, as most of us drive to university.”

Nora Guitet, Public Affairs & Corporate Communication Director for Michelin Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam commented, “As the world’s leading tyre company, Michelin places utmost importance on ensuring our tyres are of the highest safety standards, in all road conditions.

“We are pleased with the overwhelming response and are committed to continue educating students on proper tyre awareness and maintenance skills for a safer driving experience.” said.

New retail concept is first of its kind in the tire industry

THE Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is introducing a completely new tire shopping and installation experience: Roll by Goodyear. The Washington, D.C., metro area is the first market where Roll by Goodyear showrooms and the multiple installation options will be available.

Shopping preferences have changed with consumers favouring convenience, efficiency and an ability to shop interchangeably online and in-store and Roll by Goodyear was designed with these needs in mind.

“Roll by Goodyear makes buying tires easier,” said Fred Thomas, Vice President and General Manager of Goodyear Retail. “Guests can choose when, where and how to install their tires and they are in complete control of the process from start to finish.

Goodyear is eliminating the waiting room and giving people time back in their day to do the things they really want to do.”

Here’s how it works:
– Guests start their shopping online with a seamless experience at RollByGoodyear.com or in a showroom. Roll by Goodyear showrooms are located in vibrant lifestyle centres where people live, work and play.
– Once tires are purchased either online or in-store, guests can pick from a handful of installation options. They can drop off their keys at a showroom and enjoy the nearby amenities or Roll by Goodyear will provide valet service that will pick up a guest’s vehicle from a location of their choice and bring it to back to wherever they are. People can also schedule a mobile installation van that will come to where they are and install their tires.
– The entire installation will be accompanied by real-time email or text status updates, so no time is spent wondering when your vehicle will be ready.

Goodyear conducted significant pre-market testing for Roll and the results were extremely favorable across all demographics, particularly with millennials.

While Roll by Goodyear will look, feel and transact differently from Goodyear’s traditional company-owned stores, they are backed by the 120-year history of innovation, quality and superior performance of Goodyear.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) will be launching the new Mitsubishi Triton in the first quarter of 2019.

MITSUBISHI Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, held an exclusive media preview of the New Triton during the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS) at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

“Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has been producing pick-ups for the past 40 years, since 1978. To date, over 4.7 million units have been built and are being used in some of the most extreme road conditions around the world.

In Malaysia, the Triton has found more than 70,000 proud owners since its launch in 2006,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

He added “Our principal Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) in Japan recently launched a new global tagline called ‘Drive your Ambition’. It is a powerful statement of our commitment to the values and aspirations of its drivers.

The New Triton is developed based on the concept of ‘BEYOND TOUGH’ image and we believe it will impress customers with its tougher exterior, superior handling, as well as advanced safety features.”

The New Triton is imported as a Completely Built-Up (CBU) vehicle from MMC’s regional production hub in Thailand. The Malaysian market offers five variants of the New Triton with the following estimated prices starts from RM 100K to RM 140K in Peninsular Malaysia.

Prices are quoted on-the-road without insurance (10% SST inclusive) for Individual Private Owners.
Terms and Conditions Apply.

The New Triton’s front fascia features the latest iteration of Mitsubishi Motors Dynamic Shield design language with slim headlamps flanking the grille and fog lamps and indicators tucked into the corners.

The available colours are White Diamond, Black Mica, Sterling Silver and Graphite Grey Metallic.

The New Triton is powered by the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine with Variable Valve Timing technology. Coupled with Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT), it produces a strong 181 PS of power and 430 Nm of torque.

A new 6 speed auto transmission has also been added to improve the driving efficiency in the New Triton. Driven by a Super Select 4WD II with Off-road Mode, the New Triton delivers powerful and confident driving performance across all terrains.

The New Triton will also come with advanced safety features such as Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA) and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Depending on the variants, the New Triton is equipped with seven SRS airbags, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Active Stability with Traction Control (ASTC), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descend Control (HDC), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) and Brake Override System and rest reminder functions for a complete peace-of-mind driving.

The safety of the Triton is further strengthened by a strong Mitsubishi Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body construction which is reinforced with super high tensile steel.

Malaysians will be able to get the first close-up view of the New Triton at a series of special displays at major towns and cities from 7 December 2018 to 20 January 2019.

In conjunction with the arrival of the new model, authorised Mitsubishi Motors dealers nationwide are accepting pre-launch bookings from customers who wish to be among the first to own the New Triton in Malaysia.

Be one of the first 1,000 owners to book and register a New Triton and receive an exclusive limited edition THULE all-purpose luggage bag worth RM2,000.