Pic 1: Riding shotgun with Alister McRae
I've always been a rally fan. The sport is so much more accessible to the petrol head than other forms of motorsports. You get to be right at the heat of the action rather than behind some cordoned off fences.
Another plus point is that rally drivers are a friendly lot. I've met, chatted and took photos with some of the world’s best known rally drivers and I can say they are a whole lot better than those F1 drivers that I bump into during the F1 races. Humble, down to earth and chatty with the fans. :)
Pic 2: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 3: Interior
I am mighty proud that Proton did a good season this year too. They took first and second placing at the APRC 2010 and also second and third placing for the Asia Cup. Overall the team came out second for the Manufacturer’s Championship. Now ain't that a feat for a team that is considered the underdogs!
Pic 4: Lovely seats!
Pic 5: GEMS system
I can still remember the first time I saw Alister McRae. It was in 1998 when he was driving the Volkswagen Golf GTi. Then in 1999, he was the works driver for Hyundai driving the Hyundai Coupe. Check out the pics below which I took way back then. A little walk down memory lane .....
Pic 6: Alister was driving the VW Golf GTi in 1998 (note autograph :P)
Pic 7: In 1999, Alister was works driver for Hyundai
Pic 8: During recce, Alister ran into an emu during Rally of Australia hence the damaged front end (Yes he autographed this pic too :P)
Pic 9: David Senior tightening back the wheel
Anyway, back to the experience in the Proton Satria Neo Super S2000, the drive was done in an oil palm estate somewhere in Sepang, Malaysia. Strapped in the TRS harness and donning the Stilo helmet with integrated intercom, I was able to chat with Alister enroute to the start of the SS. As my only experience in a rally car was on tarmac, he was telling me that real rallying is on the forest (gravel) and it will be a totally different experience. I agreed and look forward to going at crazy speeds admist oil palms on both sides of the road.
Observing Alister piloting the car, the agility and maneuverability of the vehicle is phenomenal. It's amazing how Alister controls the vehicle on the slippery gravel (it was raining!). What really amazes me is how responsive the brakes are. Braking was done very very late. For example, at a square turn, Alister yanks on the handbrake and the car slides thru with ease. Everytime, he pulls the handbrake it's like a ballerina on steroids!
Pic 10: Those buttons on the steering wheel are bluetooth linked - weight saving on wires
Pic 11: Those are AP pedals there
Pic 12: Gear indicator display
Pic 12: GEMS system with 12 scroll-able screens
Pic 13: GEMS system with 12 scroll-able screens
Pic 14: The rear - spare tyre, jack, first-aid kit, etc..
Pic 15: The heart of the Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 16: The heart of the Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 17: Roll cage and air vents on the roof
Pic 18: Side shot
Pic 19: With Alister McRae
Pic 20: The hardworking crew
Pic 21: Alister McRae
Pic 22: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 23: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 24: ER34 or Proton Satria Neo Super S2000? Hmmm.....
Pic 25: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 26: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 27: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Pic 28: The Proton Satria Neo Super S2000
Posts
eujin, next time got such lubang pls ask me along too.. i don want to ride, but want to shoot the rally action from far...
ReplyDeletemust have been a really nice experience. glad you had such a great opportunity..envy! :)
ReplyDeletei guess it must have been really loud inside, but perhaps muffled by the helmet and intercom system?
woaychee, you can go to the MRC rounds. Lots of rally action for you to snap.
ReplyDeleteMugil, it's an awesome experience. It's loud but not too intrusive. Guess the helmet really helps.
That is one groovy experience. Hope that I can also be able to sample cars like that. How was the experience?
ReplyDelete