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PRESS RELEASE : PROTON SATRIA NEO S2000 WINS RACE AGAINST HELICOPTER

Good afternoon,

Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Tracey Jan from the Group Marketing & Branding Division of PROTON. I will be coordinating the news releases for our Motorsports division hereon together with my colleague Norhani Ahmad Jaya. You will find our contact details in the attached document below.

Please find attached a release on the Proton R3 Malaysia Rally team who are currently in Australia for the International Rally of Queensland. The PROTON Satria Neo S2000 car participated in a race against a helicopter and won. The race was part of the buildup towards the rally which will take place this weekend. We hope that you will be able to publish this story in your respective publications. Also attached are photos from the event for your further perusal.

Photo captions:
S2000vsChopper.jpg - PROTON Satria Neo S2000 races against the Robinson
AlisterandChris.jpg - Alister and Chris
HelicoptervsSatria.jpg - It was a close race with the Robinson only a few metres behind the PROTON

Please feel free to contact me should you require more information or need more photos.

Thank you and regards,
Tracey Jan
Group Marketing & Branding,
PROTON Holdings Berhad

PROTON Centre of Excellence Complex
KM33.8 Westbound Shah Alam Expressway
47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
DL +603-8026 9519 | FAX +603-8026 9522 | HP +6016-277 1025
E-MAIL JANF@proton.com
www.proton.com

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Go to www.proton25years.com for more details




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


PROTON SATRIA NEO S2000 WINS RACE AGAINST HELICOPTER

Brisbane, 30th July 2010 - PROTON and Chris Atkinson got their weekend off to a great start by winning the 'Rally car vs Helicopter Race' held recently at the Sunshine Coast airport in Queensland, Australia. The race kicks-off an entire week of events leading up to the International Rally of Queensland, the fourth round of the 2010 FIA-Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).

Closed for an hour, the airport coordinated a race between a Proton Satria Neo S2000 car and a Robinson R44 helicopter and while it was extremely close on both occasions Atkinson was able to cross the line a few metres ahead of the helicopter.
"It was a great way to start our event and I hope we can make it three wins in row, by winning the rally this weekend", said an elated Atkinson after the race.
Australian Chris Atkinson is a hugely popular rally driver with notable achievements as a World Rally Car driver. He has driven for the Subaru World Rally Team since the 2005 season. His achievements include finishing second at the 2008 Rally México and Rally Argentina. Other podium placing include third place finishes at the 2005 Rally Japan and the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally.
The best drivers from Asia, the Pacific and Australia will be participating in what will be the largest Rally in Australia, with over 80 entries registered.  The event will commence with a rally show and the 2.3 kilometre Coates Hire Rally Shootout at Caloundra on the evening of 30th July and continue with forestry Special Stages around Imbil in the Mary Valley over the weekend.  The cars and crew will also visit the towns of Kenilworth and Cooroy on Saturday. 16 gravel Special Stages will be run over Saturday and Sunday in the Imbil State Forest, near Gympie. The total competitive distance of 276 kilometres includes two stages of around 35 kms, among the longest in international rallying.
Supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the rally will also feature many activities including the local Australian Rally Championship and the Australian Classic Rally Competition.  The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators from around the region.
The PROTON R3 Malaysia Rally Team is currently in Australia for the International Rally of Queensland which is being held from 30th July - 1st August as the team continues their quest in the 2010 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).  Team member, Scotsman Alister McRae finished an exceptional second in the previous round in New Zealand, delivering a solid result for PROTON after a promising debut early in the season.
With three rounds remaining for the team, PROTON is currently ranked second in the manufacturers championship table, with Mitsubishi in the lead, and Subaru at third placing.
Watch the video of the Rally car vs Helicopter Race', get photos and live updates of PROTON Satria Neo S2000 in International Rally of Queensland on the Official  PROTON Satria Neo Super 2000 Facebook page.

-The End-
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R3 is PROTON's Motorsport Division specialising in the research, development and production of race cars and performance parts. The term R3 stands for Race, Rally, Research.

About PROTON
PROTON, established in 1983, is Malaysia's largest manufacturer of automobiles, and the only full-fledged OEM car manufacturer in South-East Asia. With operations in key markets from UK to the Middle East, and across South-East Asia and Australasia, especially in countries like China and Iran, PROTON produces cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences.

Its offerings include versatile and reliable four-door family vehicles, two-door hatchbacks for the young-at-heart, luxurious and stylish executive sedans, spacious and affordable multi-purpose vehicles, as well as the world-renowned sports cars from Lotus. Most importantly, PROTON models are now developed with Lotus Engineering, offering customers superior ride and handling experience in every ride.

PROTON's inception as a key driver of national development has seen the brand accelerate its learning curve through technology transfer with strategic partnerships and technical collaborations. By listening to the needs of customers, PROTON cars are now steadily on track to achieve the mission for the future, with PROTON set to become a marque which builds cars with passion and soul; cars that are a delight to drive - and a pleasure to own.


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For further information, please contact Group Marketing & Branding Division:

Hani Jaya at hp: 010 4000 868 / tel: 03-8026 9512 / norhanaj@proton.com
Tracey Jan at hp: 016-277 1025 / tel: 03-8026 9519 / janf@proton.com