The R3gister - Race Rally Research (R3)

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22 August 2006

Former winners – Khaidi Kamaruddin and Admi Shahrul Ahmad Saffian will be taking up a new challenge at Sepang’s 12-hour Petronas Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) this weekend; using a lower powered machine and partnering a rally driver.

Winners using supercars in previous editions, Admi, winner in 2001 with TVR Racing Team and Khaidi, team manager for last year’s victorious Amprex Proton R3 Racing Team, would be hoping that rally driver Ivan Khong would be as fast on the tarmac as on the natural terrain.

Launch of Menara KL Racing Team

Driving for Menara KL Racing and competing in Class B for cars between 1601cc to 1900cc, the team would be using a 1800cc Satria R3, tuned up and prepared by prepared by Proton Motorsprts Division, or better known as R3 – Race, Rally Research with Silverstone as Tyre Partner and MOTUL as Lubricant Partner.

“My personal dream in the MME is to win in all the classes. I had managed to win the overall title and Class A in 2001 in a TVR Chimaera. We are determined to win Class C this year,” said Admi, who did not race from 2002 to 2005 because his working contract with Sepang International Circuitof did not allow him to race.

Now working on his own as an event organiser, Admi spoke highly on the performance of the Satria R3 machine; saying that their technical partner in Proton Motorsports had done a great job in preparing the car since three months ago.

“Testing has been encouraging and we are fully confident to match the other front runners. With Khaidi and Ivan, we have a perfect combination and we are ready to make an impact at this year’s race,” Admi said at a press conference in Menara Kuala Lumpur after the team’s official launch today.

An active racer in the 1990s, Khaidi said he was happy to be back at the steering wheel after handling management duties in his days with Proton Motorsports and the R3 Racing Team.

“It will be different challenge for me especially this year. I won the overall title as a team manager; but driving will be an entirely different affair for me,” said Khaidi, who left Proton Motorsports early this year to be on his own.

As one of the founder members of Proton R3, Khaidi will be familiar with the power and characteristics of the 1800cc machine, which he echoed Admi’s sentiments that the car was in peak performance and was ready for battle.

While noting that rally and track racing demands different kinds of approach and driving, Ivan said he was ready to make an impact in the Petronas Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium 2006 after unsuccessful bids in 2001 and 2003.

A regular and top performer in Proton R3’s Time Attack programme, Ivan said the biggest test for the team would be to qualify for the actual race as there were already 38 entries in the class.

Only 26 cars from Class B would qualify for the actual race that only permits 77 starters in accordance to Sepang F1 Circuit’s license issued by the International Automative Federation (FIA).

Another 26 cars would be selected from Class C for cars below 1600cc and the final 25 cars would be from a combined Class A and the open class. Qualifying would be held on Friday (August 25) and the race to be held on Sunday (August 27); starting from 12.07am.

Source: SIC Media