Proton Looks Forward to Queensland Action

MILPERRA, AUSTRALIA – July 26, 2010: The Proton R3 Rally Team is gearing up for what's likely to be one of the biggest weekend's of the season, when native Queenslander Chris Atkinson, Australia's fastest and most successful rally driver, takes on all-comers in Malaysia's fastest rally car: the Satria Neo S2000 on next week's International Rally of Queensland.

And, as if that wasn't enough for Australian rally fans to get excited about, Proton's other driver, Alister McRae also hails from those shores these days. McRae might be Scottish born, but he now lives in Perth, Western Australia. The scene is set for Proton to enjoy what's locally known as a 'ripper' of a weekend.

The stunning Proton Satria Neo S2000s which are competing on this year's Asia Pacific Rally Championship haven't been quiet for long. Since McRae finished second APRC runner on the International Rally of Whangarei at the start of the month, the rally cars have been shipped from New Zealand to Australia while the team members flew back around the world to embark on an exhausting test schedule. The test Satria has been around the team's test track in Britain countless times, clocking up in excess of 1,000 kilometres while developing the car ahead of the fourth round of the series.

The International Rally of Queensland takes place just north of Brisbane on Australia's east coast. The event's rally headquarters are beachside overlooking the stunning Coral Sea, but the main event takes place just inland, based around the town of Imbil. It's on the forest roads surrounding the service park in Imbil that the event will be won and lost. Fortunately for Proton, Atkinson, who lives south of the rally's base in Gold Coast, knows a thing or two about this event having won it in the past.

Having demonstrated the huge potential of both himself and the Satria Neo S2000, by setting fastest times in the APRC, since signing for Proton at the start of the season, Atkinson is keen to give his home fans plenty to cheer when he starts the first stage next Friday (July 30) night.

McRae needs no introductions in this part of the world, or indeed anywhere else on the planet. The former World Rally Championship star's speed is just as sharp as ever and, having come so close on two previous rounds, he too will be chasing a first APRC win of 2010.

The drivers are both in Australia and will test their Satria Neo S2000s, which have been fitted with upgrades since the last event, on Tuesday next week. They will then complete their reconnaissance run through the stages on Thursday, before a final shakedown test on Friday morning. Just a few hours after that and part four of Proton's Asia Pacific Rally Championship adventure gets going.