The R3gister - Race Rally Research (R3)

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

General Release.
20 July 2006, Kuala Lumpur

R3 Make Drivers’ Dream Come True
Nine amateur racing drivers went through the R3 Merdeka Millenium Endurance Driver Selection Program today as part of R3’s ongoing motorsports development plan that aims to build a sustainable step-up infrastructure within the national motorsports industry where aspiring drivers are given the opportunity to further their careers in motor racing. The event was held conjunction with R3’s first official test session in preparation for the Merdeka Millennium Endurance 2006 (MME06).

“As one of the youngest and more prominent figures in national motorsports we believe that it is part of our responsibility to develop the motor racing fraternity further and this is why we’ve come up with this program. It is to realise the potential of such talented people,” said Head of R3, Tengku Djan .

Out of the nine drivers, five are overall class champions from R3’s 2005 Street Shoot Out Challenge Championships series plus one wildcard selected from the same series, while the other three were chosen from the large pool of talented test drivers and engineers within Proton itself. The program rewards the best four drivers with a place in R3’s MME06 racing team as race drivers, while the other five that don’t make selection will still be absorbed into the team as part of the technical and race support crews.

The program will continue for 2006 and pick champions from this year’s five round R3 Time Attack Challenge Championships series and prepare them for Merdeka Millenium Endurance 2007. The program is planned to continue up to 2008.

“We want to reward those who have supported us and those who has shown great potential in developing their careers in motorsports. Through this we also want to generate a great amount of interest amongst amateur drivers to get into competitive motor racing at an entry level and if they are good, step-up to a more competitive and exciting platform. When these amateur drivers see how achievable and cost effective racing at the highest level of motorsports in the country is, it will become very attractive for a considerable number of them,” Tengku Djan added.

As part of its plan to make motorsports more accessible and affordable for the enthusiast R3 will also be conducting a special promotions sale on a selected range of R3 competition and performance parts and accessories throughout August.

“Another facet of our development program is to make racing more accessible and affordable,” explained R3’s Head of Special Projects, Adian Yein.

“Teams who are competing in this year’s Millennium Merdeka Endurance will be eligible for our very special MME offer where upon presentation of their official MME Entrance Fee receipt they can enjoy up to 25% discount on selected performance and competition parts and accessories. Of course our loyal customers will also enjoy attractive discounts during this special promotions period too.” He added.

For more information on the special R3 MME promotions offer please contact R3’s customer service 03 5191 1055 extension 2919.

R3 also ran in an extensively revised Proton CamPro 1.6 developed to produce 210bhp fitted to a race prepared Proton Gen.2 as part of its first official test session today in preparation for MME06. As reigning 2005 Class O and Overall Champions, this year will be a tough one for the team as they try to hold on the elusive title for the second year in a row.

R3’s participation for MME06 will also be very comprehensive as the team is currently busy preparing four cars for this year’s campaign. The line up will include last year’s Overall Champion and most number of laps completed record holder, Lotus Exige 300RR, along with one Proton R3 Race Gen.2 and one Proton R3 Race Waja competing in their respective classes.

As part of its efforts to encourage and develop grassroots motorsports and racing, R3 invited champions of last year’s R3TA (formerly known as SSO or Street ShootOut Series) and several special guests (myself included) to participate in a driver selection cum trial for this year’s Merdeka Millenium Race.

Autocross champions of their respective class in the R3TA comprising former rally drivers Ivan and Ian Khong, Hammond Lai, Ho Wai Kok, Mike Yap were joined by experienced R3 rally driver Sutan Mustafa, Proton H&T drivers – Zaid and Syamin.

Three specially-prepared R3 Satria 1600 cars (same ones used in last year’s A1GP Support Race) were strapped up with cameras for driver evaluation. Pit 18 and 19 bustled with activity early in the morning, as R3 technicians made last minute adjustments to the car and camera crew swarmed different areas of the pits.

A briefing was done by Head of R3, Tengku Djan Ley who reiterated that outright speed was not the selection criteria, but rather mechanical sympathy and consistency overall, the race proper being a 12-hour endurance race.

Drivers were given a 20-minute warm up with 120bhp, 900kgs race cars around the half North Circuit. For many of the autocrossers, this was their first ever attempt at the circuit whilst for me, first ever attempt at the half circuit.

I was allocated Car 3, together with Hammond and Mike, the three of us being the tallest amongst the drivers. I was the first driver out in Car 3. Strapped in snugly in the full bucket Motordrive seat, the car felt familiar, it being a Satria. The gearshift, thankfully did not come with a short shifter ala the Stage 3 Satria R3 which I drove during the recent R3TA Round 3. The deep dish Sparco rally steering felt fantastic. I felt almost like a real race driver!

Each of the race cars were tailed by instructors in Satria R3s – two being Stage 2 (one being my own, borrowed by R3) and the other, the menacing Stage 3. Different cars were observed closely behind by Tengku Djan, Faidzil Alang and Adian Yein Khalid, all accomplished and experienced race drivers.

Warm Up Laps
I took my out lap cautiously, with Faidzil on my tail. It was weird being chased by my own car! The race car was sensitive and twitchy although not overly so. It had massive grip despite running on old tires slicks. The un-servoed brakes needed getting used to however. Un-servoed brakes feel as if there is no bite if you don’t stomp on it initially. Unlike usual braking on road cars where we would apply initial pressure, then gradually increase, braking technique here is reversed. Hit it hard, then modulate.

Turns 1 to 5 were familiar and I had little problems getting round them, except adjusting to braking points, different to my road car. I found the need to brake earlier. Turn 6 was odd and different. Where on a full circuit it was a straight forward approach to Turns 7 and 8, Turn 6 on the short circuit had cones condoning off the rest of the circuit, and much trickier to negate. I braked on approach and downshifted. I felt the rear stepping out and countered but it was too late. I spun out.

I regained composure and continued towards Turn 7 back onto the main straight. The 120bhp car actually felt quite fast and I hit 170km/h on the straight, before braking hard at 100m. I found myself lifting off a little earlier, again not too confident with the brakes. While turning in on Turn 1, I spun out again! This is totally unprecedented! My first ever spin at Turn 1! Hah! Like they say, there will always be a first time in anything right?

The rest of my warm up laps were smooth thankfully, although I found myself constantly adjusting and trying out different braking and turning in points. The car felt very good and grippy. I braked as late as I felt comfortably so and downshifted as smooth as I could. Being in a sensitive car, I had to be much more aware on braking, weight transfer and steering input. I did a good 7 to 8 laps before being called in to pit. The other lanky driver Hammond, went out next.

To be continued in Part 2. Pics and full timed runs to come.