Proton fourth make in BTCC 2002

JMeissner · 26 Sep 2001, 16:46 (Ref:151650)

Proton joins BTCC 2002
BTCC 26/09/01

Proton will join the BTCC in 2002 with a full factory supported team according to Autosport. The team will use the new Proton Impian and two cars will be run. Team Petronas will run the cars, that team has alot of experience from Touring Car racing in for example Malaysian events. Proton will be the fourth make with Peugeot, MG and Vauxhall in the BTCC next year, assumed that Vauxhall will continue, they haven't confirmed officially yet. Proton will release more details in November, stay tuned!

Johan Meissner
johan@touringcartimes.com

Eddie_harasym · 26 Sep 2001, 18:11 (Ref:151690)

Thats great news, if totally official. Nice to see Proton making a bigger impact in the UK.

Wait...

Did I just say Nice to see Proton?

MichaelC · 26 Sep 2001, 18:23 (Ref:151701)

Oh God, all that speculation about BMW, Audi, Lexus, FMC and we get Proton. Fantastic. Watch for Peroda in 2003 then...

hunttheshunt · 26 Sep 2001, 21:14 (Ref:151812)

Jason Plato or Yvan Muller for lead driver, i reckon. Whoever 888 doesn't wanty to keep (hopefully JP will get the boot)

pink69 · 27 Sep 2001, 10:10 (Ref:151985)

It's good to see a new name in the series. A new works team is good news as it means more competition for Vauxhall, Peugeot and MG.

MGF · 27 Sep 2001, 10:45 (Ref:151998)

This is great news!! Has anyone seen this model yet? I have not got a clue what it looks like.

RIKB · 27 Sep 2001, 12:42 (Ref:152037)

This is a Proton marketing pic so I hope they don't mind me nicking it

MichaelC · 27 Sep 2001, 14:17 (Ref:152083)

Quote:

Originally posted by MGF
This is great news!! Has anyone seen this model yet? I have not got a clue what it looks like.

There's a nice drawing in Autosport this week, a suggestion as to what it might look like.

pink69 · 27 Sep 2001, 18:26 (Ref:152177)

MG have been rumoured that they will enter 4 cars next year, two works cars and a second team with an individual sponsor, like egg sport and vauxhall.

JEMMO · 27 Sep 2001, 21:28 (Ref:152335)

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaelC
Oh God, all that speculation about BMW, Audi, Lexus, FMC and we get Proton. Fantastic. Watch for Peroda in 2003 then...

LOL!
Couldn't agree more. Still, at least Proton will boost the touring class grids next year and another works team has to be good news for the championship.

MaxSport · 27 Sep 2001, 22:31 (Ref:152365)

I heard today, from a reliable source in the UK, that Volvo are to re join the BTCC as well.

While I don't know if this precludes a ETCC program, it could be that Volvo are unsure as to the future of the Euro series and have decided to run the BTCC instead.

Eddie_harasym · 28 Sep 2001, 10:04 (Ref:152541)

How reliable is that source? It would be great news if we had Volvo return too, maybe with Rydell

Then we could get Renault, Honda, Audi........mmmmm great

Geva racing · 28 Sep 2001, 12:27 (Ref:152616)

Rydell in a volvo and Reid in a MG , could get messy.

But I don't think that volvo will return soon because rumour has it that ford wants to race the Mondeo in the DTM and is diverting money to that programme

racer69 · 28 Sep 2001, 12:27 (Ref:152617)

This is great news, so 3 Vauxhalls, 4 MG's, 2 or 3 Peugeots and 2 Protons, plus cars sold from this year and the Lexus, ALfa's and so on, this should be good, maybe then we will get a seperate Touring and Production Championship.

On the Volvo thing, with all the trouble they went to to get Nissan in as the third manufacturer, i can't see them pulling out until the FIA hands down its decision on whether the new rules will be allowed. This wouldn't stop Volvo entering the BTCC, just you probably won't see Rydell in it, unless the ETC doesn't go ahead, then we may see 4 or so Volvo's.

Minardi fan · 28 Sep 2001, 12:57 (Ref:152634)

Excellent news.

**touringlegend** · 28 Sep 2001, 16:42 (Ref:152753)

Here's the illustration of the Impian from what Autosport thinks it will look like - it's one of those colours like the Peugeot - you either love it or hate it....

http://www.aiex57.care4free.net/Web%...btc-tourer.jpg

kmchow · 28 Sep 2001, 17:21 (Ref:152777)

touringlegend wrote:

>it's one of those colours like the Peugeot - you either love it or >hate it....
>
You have to admit that colour choice is a highly likely one considering it's the colour used by most of Petronas sponsored teams?
It's the sponsor's colours?

Perhaps it just me, but does Proton have anything to do with Renault? Why does the front remind me of the older Renault Laguna or Toyota Prius???

Yeah, it would be great to see Volvo back racing in the BTCC. It's still officially called the BTCC?

A Mondeo in the DTM? Hmmm,that would be interesting...

**touringlegend** · 28 Sep 2001, 19:18 (Ref:152851)

kmchow, I think you misunderstood me - I know that colour is used by Petronas sponsered teams - I was commenting that it was one of those colours like the Pug's.

It reminds me strongly of a Renault - perhaps thats why I'm quite fond of this Proton...

hunttheshunt · 28 Sep 2001, 21:30 (Ref:152961)

Excellent for the Touring grid. I just truly hope Vauxhall and 888 stay in for next year.

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