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Proton Forsakes Snowy Sweden To Focus On Internatonal Rally Down Under
MALAYSIAN factory rally team Proton Motorsports has confirmed its entry in the International Rally of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast in July after passing up a start in a world championship round in Sweden next week.
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The team announced it will switch its attention to the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, of which the Queensland event on 12-14 July will be the third round.
The British-run manufacturer squad had intended to start its 2013 season in the snows of Scandinavia, aiming for a repeat of a dominant class win achieved by driver P-G Andersson on his home event, Rally Sweden 2012.
However, the delayed supply of vital parts for the Satria Neo S2000 rally car has made it impossible to start the FIA World Rally Championship event in Karlstad on 7 February.
Proton said it would now focus on pre-season testing for the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
It did not say who would be the driver of the second Proton entry, although British Rally Champion Alister McRae has been with the team since its debut in Queensland in 2010 and won the 2011 driver’s championship.
The rapid yellow Protons have been popular front-runners at the annual International Rally of Queensland, but have unfinished business this season after losing the 2012 championship to the arch-rival MRF team from India and failing to win the Queensland round at the past two attempts.
International Rally of Queensland Director Errol Bailey said Proton’s return was great news for fans.
“Proton Motorsports is not only a top Asia Pacific team, but also a leader in the world championship in what is now known as the WRC2 category. But instead of Sweden and snow, it will now be sun and surf for them on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“For our spectators, this means they will be seeing close-up a true world-class, professional ‘works’ team in action – the drivers, the mechanics and the whole set-up.
“That’s an unmissable opportunity.”
Team principal Chris Mellors said Proton Motorsports was committed to returning the Malaysian car manufacturer’s name to the top of the APRC standings.
“Two years ago Proton Motorsports dominated the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, winning the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles. Last year we finished second,” he said.
“This year, we intend to be first again. The Asia-Pacific campaign is at the forefront of what we’re doing in 2013.
“P-G (Andersson) and Emil (Axelsson, co-driver) dominated the SWRC round in Sweden last season and it would have been nice to repeat that result next month. This event was never included in the original programme for us; we entered for P-G and his Swedish fans.
“Unfortunately, some vital parts haven’t arrived in in time and without those we can’t start the rally. Obviously, P-G’s disappointed, but so are we all; competing at the highest level with a Scandinavian in Scandinavia in the snow in a Satria would have been a great start to the season.
“But, like I said, the focus is APRC this season and we’re very excited about starting testing for New Zealand very soon.”
Competitors are expected to come from Malaysia, India, New Caledonia, China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia for the International Rally of Queensland, which will feature a new stadium-style Super Special Stage at the Nambour Showgrounds, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, on the first night.
THE International Rally of Queensland is supported through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Regional Development Program as part of a growing calendar of events across the State.
The International Rally of Queensland also is supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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