SATRIA NEO WINS CLASS B OF THE MERDEKA MILLENNIUM ENDURANCE RACE
5 September 2008

PROTON’s Satria Neo topped the Class B category for cars between 1601cc and 1900cc at the Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race held at the Sepang International Circuit on 30 August 2008. The winning 1.6-litre Satria Neo, using a CamPro engine, was driven by Faidzil Alang Abdul Rahman, Mohd Hafizy Hafiz and Syafiq Ali.

The team completed an impressive 251 laps in the allotted 12 hours to take home the Class B title beating the second and third placed winners who both completed 246 laps on the 5.5km track.

PROTON was the only 1.6-litre competitor in Class B with the other teams racing on 1.8-litre engines. This class saw the participation of 19 competitors but only seven completed the race.

“It’s great to finish first. We have a good team and good car and worked very hard for this win. This is not an easy competition and it says a lot that we’ve not only managed to finish this race but finish at the top of the class,” said Proton Motorsports Division Head, Tengku Djan Ley.

Proton’s last win was in 2005 and 2006 where the Lotus Exige emerged overall winner.

“The win is a strong testament of the quality and technology found in a PROTON car. While the race cars showcase the latest technologies at PROTON, nevertheless they serve to bridge the technological link with our on-the road cars,” said PROTON Holdings Berhad managing director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin.

A total of 103 entries, both foreign and local, was received for the yearly endurance race this year with 77 cars qualifying for the final competition.

The race is divided into four classes, namely A, B, C and O. Out of the 77 starters across all classes on Saturday, 37 teams did not finish the race.

“The Merdeka Millennium Endurance race is a good platform for Proton - to push the boundaries and improve on our performance. It is also a strong indicator of our ability to perform under tough conditions. Our achievement here provides us with a strong boost and encouragement for participation in future competitions, not only locally but overseas as well,” said Syed Zainal.

The Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) was first introduced in 2000 and is the first 12-hour endurance race in Malaysian motor sports history.

The brainchild of the Sepang International Circuit chairman, the race is one of Malaysia’s premier motor sports event with strong international recognition.

The race has since become a part of the country’s Merdeka celebrations while providing another exciting event for motor sports enthusiasts.

About PROTON

PROTON, established in 1983, is Malaysia's largest manufacturer of automobiles. With operations in key market centers from UK and Western Europe to the Middle East, and across South-East Asia and Australasia, PROTON produces cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences.

The offerings include versatile and reliable four-door family vehicles, two-door hatchbacks for the young-at-heart, luxurious and stylish executive sedans, as well as the world-renowned sports cars from Lotus.

PROTON’s inception as a key driver of national development has seen the brand accelerate its learning curve through technology transfer with strategic partnerships and technical collaborations. PROTON cars are now steadily on track to achieving the mission for the future, gearing up to achieve the promise of a marquee which build cars with passion and soul; cars which are a delight to drive and a pleasure to own.