gear kereta

By Farrah Naz Karim

WHILE national car maker Proton shoulders the Malaysian ambition to be better positioned in the motor sports arena with its R3 Rally Team, the government will up its focus on developing local talent and training.

Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek hands over the Jalur Gemilang to Proton Holdings group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir on behalf of the Proton R3 Malaysian rally Team, to mark the 2010 Asia Pacific Rally Championship season. — Picture by Izhari Ariffin

Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Malaysia has moved into high gear in the development of motor sports in the country as it has huge potential and a most promising future for Malaysia.

"We are taking take it seriously and working on whatever we can do to develop the ability of our people and training programmes in this sporting arena," Ahmad Shabery said after handing over the Jalur Gemilang to Proton Holdings group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir on behalf of the Proton R3 Malaysian rally team, to mark the 2010 Asia Pacific Rally Championship season.

Syed Zainal Abidin said motor sports are one of several key areas Proton is pursuing to establish itself as a global brand and involvement in such events would create more awareness in its potential markets.

"Motor racing, including rallying, will serve as a proving ground for Proton with the hope that some innovative elements derived from competition can also be translated into improving our products," he said.

The rally programme, run in collaboration with Mellors Elliot Motorsport, will see Proton fielding two Satria NEO S2000 rally cars in six of the seven rounds of the championship.

Proton's APRC campaign will be spearheaded by former World Rally Championship drivers Alister McRae and co-driver Bil Hayes as well as Chris Atkinson and co-driver Stephane Prevot.

McRae and Hayes had played a significant role in helping develop the Satria NEO S2000 in 2009, while Atkinson and Prevot were formerly with the renowned Subaru world rally team and two-time winners of the Asia Pacific Super 1600 Championship in 2003 and 2004.

Round one of the 2010 APRC kicks off with the Rally of Malaysia on April 23 before culminating in China on Nov 7.

Syed Zainal Abidin said Proton is also evaluating the prospects of entering the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

If that happens, its campaign will begin with Round One in Sardinia, Italy on June 4