Iriz's 1.6L NA engine to power R3 Motorsports' Proton S70 S1K race car?
Arvind · Mar 1, 2024 09:00 AM
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Proton has confirmed that its R3 Motorsports division is building a Proton S70 R3 racing car with the aim of competing in the Sepang 1000KM (S1K) Endurance Race this year, an event which normally takes place in November.
The R3 Motorsports team will be looking to secure victory in the gruelling endurance race – which will cover around 172 laps (~1,000 km) of the Sepang F1 Circuit – for the first time since last winning it in 2019.
However, it is quite likely that it won’t feature the 150 PS/226 Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that is in the production vehicle. Instead, the proven 1.6-litre four-cylinder VVT from Proton’s Campro engine family, which has seen duty in its previous challengers, namely the Iriz R3 and Saga R3, will be used.
There’s one simple reason for this: the S1K ‘M-Production’ class regulations, in which S70 R3 will compete, do not allow turbocharged engines to participate.
The Proton S70 1.5T 3-cylinder engine produces 150 PS and 226 Nm in production guise
Regulations state only FIA Group A, N, and (National) Series Production vehicles with engine displacements between 1,401 cc and 1,600 cc are allowed. Cars must be 2-wheel drive (FWD or RWD) and cars with forced induction are not eligible.
Thus, unless regulations change for 2024, we should see the Proton 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, which in the Iriz production model delivers 109 PS and 150 Nm. However, it will produce substantially more in the S70 R3's competition guise.
Additionally, the Proton 1.6-litre is known for its robust reliability, which has propelled R3 Motorsports to 6 class-wins in the S1K over the years. In fact, even the Proton Preve and Suprima S R3 S1K racecars which are turbocharged production models, ran 1.6L NA Campro engines which produced circa 155 PS and 185 Nm.
If true, it will be interesting to see how R3 Motorsports maximizes the newer chassis and longer wheelbase of the Proton S70, which features a MacPherson strut setup at the front and a torsion beam rear suspension.
The Proton S70 R3 will face stiff competition from the likes of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia team which won the S1K title in 2022 and 2023
Perhaps most importantly, it will be interesting to see how Proton takes its learnings from competing the Proton S70 in the S1K and applies it towards the road-going Proton S70 R3 variant, which it previously confirmed is in development.
Proton has said that the S70 R3 will comprise more than just aesthetic enhancements as seen on the Proton X50 R3 Edition, adding the company is focused on a comprehensive package that will also upgrade the power and handling of the Proton S70.
Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.
