Proton Satria Neo S2000 rallycar (2009)

Quick look

• The Proton Satria Neo S2000 was developed by UK-based Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM) using the Satria Neo platform.

• The car achieved its greatest success in 2011, securing both the Drivers and Constructors titles in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) with driver Alister McRae.

• Only 10 units were produced and used in FIA Super 2000 events between 2009 and 2012.

While PERT (the PETRONAS EON Rally Team) was well known in the rallying world, giving Proton exposure in other countries, there was also another team which also helped promote Proton in international rallying. This was UK-based Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM) which developed and built the Satria Neo S2000 for the Super 2000 category of the World Rally Championship.

MEM had a connection with Proton as it had prepared rallycars for the team and when the Satria Neo came out, it acquired some cars to develop. While Proton R3 was not directly involved, it did provide some support, especially for the homologation process which usually requires information from manufacturers. R3 also provided service support when it participated in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).

The engine was adapted from the Renault unit used in the Waja 1.8, with its displacement raised to 2 litres and output was 278 bhp/271 Nm (more than double the power of the Satria Neo’s standard engine). The transmission was specifically developed by Xtrac for the S2000, using a 6-speed sequential gearbox, with 4-wheel drive.

MEM recruited various drivers for different events which included seasoned rally drivers like Alister McRae, Chris Atkinson and Per-Gunnar Andersson.

The S2000 made its debut in mid-2009 at the Intercontinental Rally Championship in Europe and the motorsport program was active up till 2012, after which Proton reduced motorsport support to only local events. During the 3 years, the best win was when McRae took the car to its first Drivers and Constructors titles in the 2011 APRC.

Of the 10 cars built by MEM, one was destroyed at an event, and another is supposed to be in Proton’s possession (not sure if it was sold off like the Satria Convertible concept) and the remaining ones are in the hands of private owners. Although homologation has expired, the Satria Neo S2000 is still eligible to run in national events (but not in FIA categories).

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