Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Proton to pick up Subaru's mantle in the WRC?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to view more of the Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car

Before Subaru entered the World Rally Championship in the Nineties, it was little more than an obscure Asian automaker. Though its rallying efforts helped to put it on the map, Subaru has decided to ditch the WRC this season. But another little-known Asian automaker may be ready to pick up what Subaru is throwing away. That company is Malaysian automaker Proton. And it's not as ridiculous as you may think.

The state-owned enterprise has a strong customer base in Asia, and is the largest automaker in the Muslim world. Proton also owns Lotus, which brings the parent company a considerably performance engineering knowledge base to tap into. Subaru's former partner Prodrive is looking for a new client. And to cap things off, now unemployed former champion Petter Solberg (who used to drive for Subaru), is now rumored to be signing on to Proton's rally team. Together with motorsport garage MEM, Proton has been busy preparing an S2000-spec rally car based on its Satria Neo hatchback for the lower-level Intercontinental Rally Championship, and if plans to switch the WRC to a modified "S2000+" formula come through, it could pave the way for Proton to mount an assault on the WRC by 2010, as the brand is eager to expand outside its regional market and establish itself in Europe.

Gallery: Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 Rally Car


[Source: Autosport | images via paultan.org]

Proton to pick up Subaru's mantle in the WRC? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>protonproton petter solbergproton prodriveproton s2000proton satria neoproton satria neo s2000proton solbergproton wrcProtonPetterSolbergProtonProdriveProtonS2000ProtonSatriaNeoProtonSatriaNeoS2000ProtonSolbergProtonWrcTue, 20 Jan 2009 11:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1433275/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/20/proton-to-pick-up-subarus-mantle-in-the-wrc/1433275/article-detail.xml 1433275 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/proton-rally_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/proton-rally.jpg <![CDATA[Proton preparing Satria Neo S2000 racer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/proton-preparing-satria-neo-s2000-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/proton-preparing-satria-neo-s2000-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/proton-preparing-satria-neo-s2000-racer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The FIA's Super 2000 formula class was designed to reduce costs in rally and touring car racing and appears to be living up to its aim, as Malaysian automaker Proton joins the growing list of carmakers jumping aboard that already includes Toyota, Ford, Skoda, MG, Peugeot, Volkswagen and Fiat/Abarth. Currently the British Touring Car Championship, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Production Car World Rally Championship, as well as national rally series in Australia, Italy and South Africa, operate under the Super 2000 formula. While it is not yet known for which series the Proton Satria Neo S2000 is being prepared to compete, it's thought to be prepared by Mellors Elliot Motorsport in Derbyshire, England for a race debut by midyear. Although Mellors Elliot prepared the car with which Proton took the Production Car World Rally Championship in 2002, it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable to infer that Lotus might lend a hand in developing its parent company's new contender.

Amidst all this speculation, specs for the Proton Satria Neo S2000 remain unknown, although the Super 2000 formula calls for engines no larger than two liters, naturally aspirated and sending no more than 280 horsepower through the mandated six-speed sequential gearbox

[Source: Yahoo Eurosport and Livincars via paultan.org]

Proton preparing Satria Neo S2000 racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>malaysia rallyMalaysiaRallyproton rallyproton rallyeproton satria neo s2000proton touring carProtonRallyProtonRallyeProtonSatriaNeoS2000ProtonTouringCarsuper 2000Super2000Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1126932/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/29/proton-preparing-satria-neo-s2000-racer/1126932/article-detail.xml 1126932 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/satria_neo_s2000_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/satria_neo_s2000.jpg -1 2