PROTON R3 Amprex Wins the Biggest Race in Asia
It was a mammoth day for PROTON R3 Amprex as the team asserted total domination and clinched the overall and Class O win in the sixth edition of the Merdeka Millenium Endurance race at Sepang International Circuit on Saturday.
After setting a blistering pace and securing pole position during Friday's qualifying session, the talented trio of R3’s Tengku Djan Ley, Amprex’s Genji Hashimoto and Australia’s Tony Ricciardello never looked back as they went on to lead most of the gruelling 12-hour endurance race and finally setting a new record of 279 laps for the overall win.
The team commented that it wasn’t an easy win as the one and only prototype Lotus Exige 300RR had worrying fuel and oil delivery issues in the early part of the endurance. The challenge was also compounded by the fact the Porsche 996 of Nicholas Thomas / Clive Bates / Joe Sevack and Class A leaders and defending champions, Honda Racing Malaysia constantly had PROTON R3 Amprex constantly in their sights.
"Basically we were marred with some issues with fuel delivery in the earlier parts of the race, which we got the drivers to get around by switching between the main and auxiliary / reserve fuel pump. The fuel pumps were getting hot, this problem went away as temperatures cooled down during the night sessions." Reported PROTON R3 Amprex’s Team Manager Adian Yien. "However, oil started to become a big problem, with Djan pitting to complain that the oil pressure warning light was blinking during braking and hard cornering. We topped it up again and sent him out, but he pitted in a few laps later as he was worried that it could be serious."
Tony Ricciardello made a great start for the team as he put down the gauntlet and opened an impressive 1min 30secs lead over Team G-1 Symphony’s R34 Skyline after just 30 laps. "This is my first race in Sepang and it is my toughest ever! The humidity and heat really takes a toll on you and if you’re not careful you’ll lose concentration. The car performed very well and was very easy to drive despite the problems and setting a good pace was not and issue. This victory is very sweet for all of us and I believe the team performed very well and deserved every bit of it, I’m very happy," he commented.
Despite the fuel surge Tengku Djan was instructed to maintain the lead during his stint but had difficulty and pitted a few times. Third driver Genji Hashimoto, recovered the lost time from the technica problems with his experience and calmness in lapping slower drivers to maintain a consistent good lap time. "I’m very excited that we’ve won. Amprex have tried for three years straight to take this title and every year we’ve only manage to go for six hours before things start to go wrong for us. Now I’m relieved because my friends and teammates can stop calling me the ‘Six hour man’! The PROTON R3 Amprex partnership is a very good one and we hope to carry on winning together," the exuberant Genji Hashimoto commenting on his experience during the race and the team’s maiden MME victory.
Victory in MME 2005 is something very special for Tengku Djan as the head of R3 waited five years to climb to the top step of the podium that night. "We’ve tried various strategies and raced in various classes and cars, although I’ve came close to the top step it was always just out of reach. From having the engine arrived from UK to having it installed in the car the next day to testing just three days prior to the race and finally wining tonight, it is really a dream come true for me. Victory in MME is not easy and I am very proud of the team that we’ve managed to make this happen," Reported Tengku Djan during the post-race press conference. He also added. "This victory is not just for our team but this victory is for all Malaysians, our supporters and sponsors and of course for PROTON. We’ve beaten the odds and gone against very tough, very competitive competition from Japan, UK, Thailand and Singapore and to know that we’ve made it is very rewarding indeed. Selamat Hari Merdeka Malaysia! This is your present."
Straight after the win PROTON R3 Amprex now have plans to continue and try to defend the title against tougher competition next year and also has its sights set in securing wins in Class A, B and C in next year’s MME. "We proven a point that we have a winning team and a winning car. Now we want to secure victories in all the other classes in competition PROTON cars developed right here in Malaysia by R3. Eventually we want Malaysians to be proud with the fact that PROTON could potentially be the only make that has won all the classes in MME," R3 Head of Marketing, Khaidi Kamaruddin explaining the team’s future plans in MME.
It was a mammoth day for PROTON R3 Amprex as the team asserted total domination and clinched the overall and Class O win in the sixth edition of the Merdeka Millenium Endurance race at Sepang International Circuit on Saturday.
After setting a blistering pace and securing pole position during Friday's qualifying session, the talented trio of R3’s Tengku Djan Ley, Amprex’s Genji Hashimoto and Australia’s Tony Ricciardello never looked back as they went on to lead most of the gruelling 12-hour endurance race and finally setting a new record of 279 laps for the overall win.
The team commented that it wasn’t an easy win as the one and only prototype Lotus Exige 300RR had worrying fuel and oil delivery issues in the early part of the endurance. The challenge was also compounded by the fact the Porsche 996 of Nicholas Thomas / Clive Bates / Joe Sevack and Class A leaders and defending champions, Honda Racing Malaysia constantly had PROTON R3 Amprex constantly in their sights.
"Basically we were marred with some issues with fuel delivery in the earlier parts of the race, which we got the drivers to get around by switching between the main and auxiliary / reserve fuel pump. The fuel pumps were getting hot, this problem went away as temperatures cooled down during the night sessions." Reported PROTON R3 Amprex’s Team Manager Adian Yien. "However, oil started to become a big problem, with Djan pitting to complain that the oil pressure warning light was blinking during braking and hard cornering. We topped it up again and sent him out, but he pitted in a few laps later as he was worried that it could be serious."
Tony Ricciardello made a great start for the team as he put down the gauntlet and opened an impressive 1min 30secs lead over Team G-1 Symphony’s R34 Skyline after just 30 laps. "This is my first race in Sepang and it is my toughest ever! The humidity and heat really takes a toll on you and if you’re not careful you’ll lose concentration. The car performed very well and was very easy to drive despite the problems and setting a good pace was not and issue. This victory is very sweet for all of us and I believe the team performed very well and deserved every bit of it, I’m very happy," he commented.
Despite the fuel surge Tengku Djan was instructed to maintain the lead during his stint but had difficulty and pitted a few times. Third driver Genji Hashimoto, recovered the lost time from the technica problems with his experience and calmness in lapping slower drivers to maintain a consistent good lap time. "I’m very excited that we’ve won. Amprex have tried for three years straight to take this title and every year we’ve only manage to go for six hours before things start to go wrong for us. Now I’m relieved because my friends and teammates can stop calling me the ‘Six hour man’! The PROTON R3 Amprex partnership is a very good one and we hope to carry on winning together," the exuberant Genji Hashimoto commenting on his experience during the race and the team’s maiden MME victory.
Victory in MME 2005 is something very special for Tengku Djan as the head of R3 waited five years to climb to the top step of the podium that night. "We’ve tried various strategies and raced in various classes and cars, although I’ve came close to the top step it was always just out of reach. From having the engine arrived from UK to having it installed in the car the next day to testing just three days prior to the race and finally wining tonight, it is really a dream come true for me. Victory in MME is not easy and I am very proud of the team that we’ve managed to make this happen," Reported Tengku Djan during the post-race press conference. He also added. "This victory is not just for our team but this victory is for all Malaysians, our supporters and sponsors and of course for PROTON. We’ve beaten the odds and gone against very tough, very competitive competition from Japan, UK, Thailand and Singapore and to know that we’ve made it is very rewarding indeed. Selamat Hari Merdeka Malaysia! This is your present."
Straight after the win PROTON R3 Amprex now have plans to continue and try to defend the title against tougher competition next year and also has its sights set in securing wins in Class A, B and C in next year’s MME. "We proven a point that we have a winning team and a winning car. Now we want to secure victories in all the other classes in competition PROTON cars developed right here in Malaysia by R3. Eventually we want Malaysians to be proud with the fact that PROTON could potentially be the only make that has won all the classes in MME," R3 Head of Marketing, Khaidi Kamaruddin explaining the team’s future plans in MME.
