Recently, Welch Motorsport has announced that they will use Proton car in the British Touring Car Championship this year.They will use the Persona (Gen2 in UK) that will be powered by TOCA engine. The car will has its debut during the second half of the season, and possibly as early as the Snetterton round in August.It is a good news for Proton name, as Proton last competed in the BTCC under Team Petronas Syntium Proton (PSP) in 2004 when Shaun Watson-Smith and Farique Hairuman drove a pair of works Impian models to a number of points finishes.During that time, Proton used the Impian/Waja model powered by 1.8 litre production engine which prepared by Mountune.
2002 FLASHBACK > PROTON IMPIAN/WAJA BTCC
(Photo credit to btccpages)
Below are the details about the Proton Impian/Waja which has been used in 2002-2004.
The Impian/Waja is the Malaysian marque’s first entry in the BTCC.A powerful car in the hands of real professionals.(Photo credit to btccpages)
Details
Nationality: Malaysian
Statistics
BTCC Debut: Brands Hatch, 1 April 2002
BTCC Last race: Donington Park, 26 September 2004
BTCC Races: 70
BTCC Podiums: 4
BTCC Fastest Laps: 2
Cars used
2002-2004 Proton Impian
Drivers
2002 David Leslie, Phil Bennett
2003 David Leslie, Phil Bennett
2004 Fariqe Hairuman, Shaun Watson-Smith
(Photo credit to btccpages)
Titles
Proton’s involvement in the BTCC was a short-lived affair. The Malaysian manufacturer ran a pair of its Impian models from 2002-04. BTCC veteran David Leslie wrung a best-ever second out of the under-funded machine at Croft in 2003. South African Shaun Watson-Smith also took a fastest race lap in 2004, but that was about as good as it got and the marque withdrew. Its friendly approach, however, will always be remembered with affection by the fans.
PROTON IMPIAN/WAJA BTCC RACE CAR SPECIFICATIONS.
Technical Details:
Engine:
4 cylinder in line, transverse installation
1996cc capacity (derived from 1.8 litre production engine)
16 valves, dual overhead camshafts with rockers
Exhaust: 4-2-1 manifold
Silencer by BTB Exhausts
Engines prepared by Mountune
Oil cooling
Oil to air heat exchanger
Lubrication
Wet sump
PETRONAS Syntium fully synthetic lubricant
Driveline
Carbon clutch supplied by AP Racing
Transverse mounted 6-speed transmission supplied by Xtrac
• Straight cut
• Sequential actuation
• Choice of ratios
• Mechanical plate differential
Front wheel drive
Body
Steel construction
Four-door
Computer optimised roll cage for high torsional rigidity
– in-house design, manufactured by Custom Cages
60 litre fuel tank
Dimensions
Overall length: 4473 mm
Width: 1821 mm
Height: 1356.5 mm
Wheelbase: 2600 mm
Track: Front: 1576 mm
Rear: 1576 mm
Electrical
12V System
EFi Engine Control Unit
Pi Research Logger & Dash Unit
Safety
Recaro Carbon/Kevlar seat
Sparco 6-point harness
Plumbed in 5kg SPA foam fire extinguisher
Front Suspension
Racing design McPherson struts with lightweight lower wishbones and anti-roll bar.
Ohlins damper units & Eibach coil springs.
Rear Suspension
Lightweight multilink system with anti roll bar & coil springs. Ohlins damper units & Eibach coil springs
Steering
Power assisted, high ratio rack and pinion – modified road car item
Wheels
17” x 9” OZ
Brakes
Hydraulically assisted dual circuit system by AP Racing
Front: Single 6 piston calipers with 343mm diameter x 32mm thick ventilated discs
Rear: Single dual piston calipers on 290mm diameter x 9.5mm solid discs.
Vehicle Weight
1150Kg including driver
(Photo credit to btccpages)
Jom komen!