You’ve seen our renders, and you’ve seen the prototype at the 2024 Malaysia Auto Show. But it’s now finally time for the Real Deal to make its first appearance, with a teaser video (watch here!) showing the upcoming Proton S70 R3 race car in final development as it prepares to take on the Sepang 1000km (S1K) race next month!
The short video doesn’t say much – it’s the engine that does most of the talking (or shouting). It’s undoubtedly racecar-loud, but some of you might notice that the engine doesn’t sound quite like the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine on the stock Proton S70.
That’s because – well, we’re somewhat guessing here since Proton didn’t officially announce any details – the Proton S70 R3 racecar will instead be powered by a modified version of its 1.6-litre Campro four-cylinder naturally aspirated mill.
The Proton S70 R3 racecar will most likely run in the top-step M-Production (MTC) class for Sepang 1000km, and according to the rulebooks, the only engines permitted are those between 1,401 to 1,600 cc, and without any sort of forced induction – so sorry, no turbochargers allowed here.
Incidentally, we managed to catch the Proton S70 R3 race car undergoing its shakedown test at Petronas Sepang International Circuit today. When we went nearer to their pit box, though,
Whatever the mill is, the engine in the Proton S70 R3 race car be paired to a (most likely race-spec) H-pattern manual gearbox, with drive sent to the front wheels. Other modifications we can see from the short teaser video include a custom suspension setup, a stripped out interior, alongside upgraded wheels, tyres, and brakes.
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Now, here comes the fun bit. According to the S1K rulebook, to be eligible for the MTC class, the competing car will need to be based off an actual production car available “for a certain market and/or country”, with a minimum production number of 2,500 units.
The rulebook is vague about the homologation requirements, only referencing the International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) official documents. But according to FIA, a series production race car needs to be a car “belonging to the same production series and which have the same bodywork (outside and inside), same mechanical components and same chassis”.
If we refer to the Malaysia Championship Series 2024 technical regulations document, though, the rules specifically allow for any engine “from the manufacturer range of engine (sic)”, provided that they fit within the technical requirements, and is in production as of 1st January 2007.
And as for the transmission, “an alternative non-production or sequential gearbox with maximum 5 gears may be fitted in replacement to the original gearbox”.
We don’t know what all that means for a “homologation special” Proton S70, but if by wishing we can make it any closer to happening, you know we’ll be wishing for it so hard.
Either way, we’re just excited to see Proton back to fighting for top honours at the iconic endurance race. The national carmaker has one of the most illustrious history in the series, having won it four times before (and two more when it was called Merdeka Millenium Endurance!) – a feat that no other carmaker has matched just yet.
ALSO READ: Proton to participate in 2024 Sepang 1000km with S70 R3 race car!
But now, the Proton S70 R3 race car will be facing stiff competition from the likes of Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia, who won the S1K in the past two years, as well as the Honda Malaysia Racing Team with their Honda City and City Hatchback racecars.
The 2024 Sepang 1000km will be happening on the 20th to 23rd November 2024, and you won’t want to miss it.
