Editing Proton Holdings (section)

== Motorsport ==

=== 1980s and 1990s ===

Proton has a significant historical presence in [[motorsports]]. In the late 1980s, an alliance consisting of Proton, Malaysian oil and gas company [[Petronas]], [[Mitsubishi Motors]] of Japan and distributor of Proton cars, Edaran Otomobil Nasional (EON) led to the formation of the Petronas EON Racing Team (PERT).<ref name="Proton Motorsports history"/> The team focused primarily on [[rallying]] and has been in motorsports as early as 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OntPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2120,111791&dq=proton+saga+rally&hl=en |title=A touch of Saga glamour |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=1 August 1987 |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330235233/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OntPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2120%2C111791&dq=proton+saga+rally&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> PERT won the 1989 [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Malaysia Rally with [[Proton Saga (First generation)|Proton Saga]] [[rally car]]s which were prepared by Mitsubishi's [[Ralliart]] division, featuring powerful 150&nbsp;bhp engines as part of its rally specifications.<ref>{{cite web |author=Martinez, Gerald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I2NPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4399,3693995&dq=proton+saga+rally&hl=en |title=EON throw in the Proton challenge |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=15 September 1989 |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330235150/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I2NPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4399%2C3693995&dq=proton+saga+rally&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> PERT won several other international rallies including the 1991 Rally of Thailand, 1993 [[Dubai]] International Rally and the Rallye Ng Philipinas in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively.<ref name="Proton Motorsports history"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thailandrally.com/pdf/rallyofthailand/13112012/Rally%20Guide%202%20KING%20CUP%20APPENDIX.pdf |title=Rally of Thailand – Previous Winners |publisher=thailandrally.com |access-date=3 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715122851/https://www.thailandrally.com/pdf/rallyofthailand/13112012/Rally%20Guide%202%20KING%20CUP%20APPENDIX.pdf |archive-date=15 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== 2000s ===

[[File:Karamjit Singh.jpg|thumb|right|Proton PERT with veteran Malaysian rally driver [[Karamjit Singh]].]]
Proton's presence in international motorsports peaked when the Petronas EON Racing Team won the 2002 [[Production World Rally Championship]] with veteran Malaysian rally driver [[Karamjit Singh]] in a [[Proton PERT]], a [[rebadged]] [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]].<ref name="Proton Motorsports history"/><ref>{{cite web |author=Wade, Giles |url=https://www.maxrally.com/2013/03/24/theres-more-to-malaysia |title=There's more to Malaysia... |publisher=maxrally.com |date=24 March 2013 |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326045754/https://www.maxrally.com/2013/03/24/theres-more-to-malaysia |archive-date=26 March 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The Proton-Karamjit duo also won the 2001, 2002 and 2004 [[Asia-Pacific Rally Championship]] titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aprc.tv/Archive/2001-Archive.php |title=APRC – 2001 Archive |publisher=aprc.tv |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182828/https://aprc.tv/Archive/2001-Archive.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aprc.tv/Archive/2002-Archive.php |title=APRC – 2002 Archive |publisher=aprc.tv |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205125/https://aprc.tv/Archive/2002-Archive.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aprc.tv/Archive/2004-Archive.php |title=APRC – 2004 Archive |publisher=aprc.tv |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214133/https://aprc.tv/Archive/2004-Archive.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003, the Proton Motorsports Division, also known as "Race.Rally.Research., R3", was established.<ref name="Proton Motorsports history"/> R3 assumed the responsibility of Proton's motorsports endeavours, which had been held by [[Ralliart]] of Mitsubishi Motors. The first model to benefit from R3 engineering was the [[Proton Satria R3]] which launched in late 2004 with a limited run of 150 units.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

=== 2010s ===

=== Asia-Pacific Rally Championship ===

[[File:Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 Rally Car 2010.jpg|thumb|left|[[Alister McRae]] in his [[Proton Satria Neo S2000]] at [[Rally Hokkaido]] during the [[2010 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship season|2010 APRC season]].]]
Proton re-entered the [[Asia-Pacific Rally Championship]] (APRC) in 2010, an international rally championship organised by the [[FIA]] encompassing rounds in Asia and Oceania. Proton had previously participated in the APRC, but withdrew in 2005 due to financial problems. The company competes under the official team name of [[Proton Motorsports]] with former [[World Rally Championship|WRC]] drivers [[Chris Atkinson]] and [[Alister McRae]] from Australia and Scotland respectively in a pair of [[Proton Satria Neo S2000]] rally cars. The new Satria Neo S2000 replaced the [[Proton PERT]] as Proton's premier rally car, and was prepared by British-based Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM) in accordance to FIA [[Super 2000]] specifications.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tan, Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2008/08/04/mem-proton-satria-neo-super-2000/ |title=MEM Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 |publisher=paultan.org |date=4 August 2008 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=27 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927054024/https://paultan.org/2008/08/04/mem-proton-satria-neo-super-2000/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The cars cost over RM1 million each and are equipped with 280&nbsp;bhp (271Nm) 2.0 litre engines paired to [[4WD]] [[powertrain|drivetrains]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arenakereta.com/2011/04/11/kenali-lebih-lanjut-proton-satria-neo-s2000-yang-memenangi-pusingan-pertama-aprc-2011/ |title=Kenali lebih lanjut Proton Satria Neo S2000 yang memenangi pusingan pertama APRC 2011 |publisher=arenakereta.com / cbt.com.my |date=11 April 2011 |access-date=4 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831042038/https://www.arenakereta.com/2011/04/11/kenali-lebih-lanjut-proton-satria-neo-s2000-yang-memenangi-pusingan-pertama-aprc-2011/ |archive-date=31 August 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Despite facing technical problems and stiff competition from the superior [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] and [[Subaru Impreza]] rally cars, Proton drivers McRae and Atkinson placed 3rd and 5th respectively in the [[2010 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship season|2010 APRC season]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

[[File:Satria kumarally2011.JPG|thumb|right|2011 [[Proton Satria Neo#Proton Satria Neo CUSCO Edition|Proton Satria Neo CUSCO Edition]] in Japan.]]

The following year, Malaysian rally veteran [[Karamjit Singh]] rejoined the APRC after a 6-year absence under the Proton R3 Cusco Rally Team in a [[Group N]] [[2WD]] [[CUSCO Japan]]-tuned 1.6L [[Campro engine|CamPro]] 145&nbsp;hp (170Nm) version of the [[Proton Satria Neo#Proton Satria Neo CUSCO Edition|Satria Neo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/35781091 |title=APRC – Karamjit Singh 2011 |date=27 January 2012 |publisher=aprc.tv / [[Vimeo]] |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=21 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521045955/https://vimeo.com/35781091 |url-status=live }}</ref> Japanese rally driver Akira Bamba also contested in the [[2011 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship season|2011 APRC season]] in another Satria Neo CUSCO. The 2011 season concluded with a one-two [[Proton Motorsports]] victory with drivers McRae and Atkinson in their Satria Neo S2000s. Karamjit placed 1st in the 2WD category and 7th overall in the championship, ahead of Bamba who placed 9th overall.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tan, Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2011/05/16/karamjits-cusco-satria-neo-is-the-fastest-2wd-car-in-rally-of-queensland/ |title=Karamjit's CUSCO Proton Satria Neo is the fastest 2WD car in Rally of Queensland |publisher=paultan.org |date=16 May 2011 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=11 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611091334/https://paultan.org/2011/05/16/karamjits-cusco-satria-neo-is-the-fastest-2wd-car-in-rally-of-queensland/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2012 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship season|2012 APRC season]], [[Chris Atkinson]] left Proton Motorsports after two years of racing history with the team. Atkinson joined Indian Team MRF instead where he piloted a [[Škoda Fabia S2000]] alongside Indian rally veteran [[Gaurav Gill]]. The vacant slot in Proton Motorsports was filled by Swedish racer [[Per-Gunnar Andersson (rally driver)|Per-Gunnar Andersson]] who also raced for Proton in the [[Intercontinental Rally Challenge]]. Additionally, Proton R3 Cusco added a third driver, Malaysian Kenneth Koh, whereas Dreams India driver Sanjay Takle participated in another 2WD Satria Neo. The 2012 season ended with a Team MRF victory, with Atkinson and Gaurav placing first and fourth respectively in their S2000 Škodas.<ref name="APRC 2012"/> Proton Motorsports driver McRae clinched second, but Andersson placed a lowly seventh overall with the S2000 Satria Neos.<ref name="APRC 2012"/> Proton R3 Cusco racers Karamjit, Bamba and Kenneth placed fifth, sixth and eight respectively and Dreams India's Sanjay placed ninth overall.<ref name="APRC 2012"/>

=== Intercontinental Rally Challenge ===
Proton entered into the [[2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season|Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2009]] with the [[Proton Satria Neo]] [[Super 2000]]. Their best result in IRC is [[Alister McRae]] finish 2nd place at [[2009 Rally Scotland]]. Drivers in 2009 were [[Karamjit Singh]], [[Guy Wilks]], [[Bryan Bouffier]] and [[Alister McRae]] scoring 13 points. In [[2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season|2010]] Proton team had many retirements and did not score a single point. Drivers for 2010 were [[Alister McRae]], [[Chris Atkinson]], [[Niall McShea]], [[Keith Cronin]], [[Gilles Panizzi]] and privateer with factory support, [[Tom Cave]]. Best result of 2010 season was 22nd place of Gilles Panizzi at [[2010 Rallye Sanremo]], although it was the only finish of Proton Satria Neo S2000 in this season.

=== British Touring Car Championship ===

[[File:Petronas Syntium Proton BTC-T Proton Impian, Knockhill Circuit, Scotland.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The [[BTC-T Proton Impian]] of Team Petronas Syntium Proton at [[Knockhill Circuit]], Scotland.]]
The [[British Touring Car Championship]] (BTCC) is a [[touring car racing]] series held each year in the United Kingdom. Proton participated in the BTCC between 2002 and 2004 as the Petronas Syntium Proton (Team PSP). The team in the [[2002 British Touring Car Championship season|2002]] and [[2003 British Touring Car Championship season|2003]] BTCC seasons was headed by Scottish and English drivers [[David Leslie (racing driver)|David Leslie]] and [[Phil Bennett (racing driver)|Phil Bennett]] respectively in two heavily modified [[BTC-T Proton Impian]] [[touring cars]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.carpages.co.uk/proton/proton_on_pace_for_btcc_19_03_02.asp |title=New Proton Team on the Pace For 2002 BTCC |publisher=carpages.co.uk |date=19 March 2002 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022347/https://www.carpages.co.uk/proton/proton_on_pace_for_btcc_19_03_02.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> They were succeeded by South African [[Shaun Watson-Smith]] and Malaysian [[Fariqe Hairuman]] in the [[2004 British Touring Car Championship season|2004 season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-team-psp-announces-2004-driver-line-up/ |title=BTCC: Team PSP announces 2004 driver line-up |publisher=motorsport.com |date=3 February 2004 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=24 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524134706/https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-team-psp-announces-2004-driver-line-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Welch Motorsport - Sopp+Sopp, Daniel Welch, Proton Persona NGTC, Snetterton, England.jpg|thumb|right|[[Daniel Welch (racing driver)|Daniel Welch]]'s [[Proton Persona|NGTC Proton Persona]] at the [[2013 BTCC]] [[Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit|Snetterton GP]], England.]]
In 2011, UK-based Welch Motorsport contested the BTCC in a [[Proton Persona]] [[NGTC]], driven by [[Daniel Welch (racing driver)|Daniel Welch]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2248 |title=New team plans Proton entry |publisher=btcc.net |date=16 February 2011 |access-date=4 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723032915/https://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2248 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Welch Motorsport competes independently and is not tied to Proton, but indirectly supported by Proton UK<ref>{{cite web |author=Lim, Anthony |url=https://paultan.org/2011/12/21/welch-motorsport-to-expand-to-running-two-ngtc-protons-in-2012-btcc-current-btcc-persona-goes-on-display/ |title=Welch Motorsport to expand to running two NGTC Protons in 2012 BTCC – current BTCC Persona goes on display |publisher=paultan.org |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=27 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327063957/https://paultan.org/2011/12/21/welch-motorsport-to-expand-to-running-two-ngtc-protons-in-2012-btcc-current-btcc-persona-goes-on-display/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The team made its debut in the second half of the [[2011 BTCC season]] and scored a point in the final race at the [[Silverstone Circuit]], placing 22nd overall in the tournament. In comparison, 2011 Drivers' Champion [[Matt Neal]] of [[Honda Racing Team]] scored 257 points.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Welch Motorsport's performance improved significantly in the [[2012 British Touring Car Championship season|2012 BTCC season]]. Daniel Welch had his best race at [[Oulton Park]], where he finished sixth in race one, and held off defending champion Matt Neal to claim fourth position in race two. Welch Motorsport placed 15th overall with 79 points in the 2012 season, with 2012 Drivers' Champion [[Gordon Shedden]] scoring 408 points in comparison.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Welch Motorsport expanded to a two-car team in the [[2013 British Touring Car Championship season|2013 BTCC season]]. The [[Proton Persona]] [[NGTC]] returns in the hands of [[Daniel Welch (racing driver)|Daniel Welch]], whereas the second car is a [[Super 2000]] [[Ford Focus (second generation, Europe)|Mk 2 Ford Focus]] driven by [[David Nye (racing driver)|David Nye]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}