Homologated Proton Iriz R5 rally car to be showcased at 2019 Goodwood Festival

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly homologated Proton Iriz R5 rally car will be showcased by the British motorsport firm Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM) at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed. This would be the car’s first public appearance ever since it received homologation from FIA, the sports governing body. Also, it would now be able to enter FIA events like the World Rally Championship.

MEM director Chris Mellors said, “There is no better place to bring the Proton Iriz R5 than the Goodwood Festival of Speed and show our new creation to tens of thousands of motorsport fans from across the globe.” Also, the Proton Iriz is the only R5 vehicle to be approved for both the right and left-hand drive layout. This factor only increases its reach in the global rally market, added Mellors.

According to MEM, the Iriz R5 is already in high demand and getting FIA homologation only adds to the car’s interest. Chris Mellors further said, “We have people such as multiple Irish Tarmac Rally champion Eugene Donnelly using one which is important for the brand and its continued development, but we are always looking to expand our customer base.”

Three new layouts of the car coming out of the firm’s Derbyshire workshop with only more to come in the future said MEM. The Proton Iriz project was taken up by MEM in the year 2016, and it made a memorable appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2017, followed by Cambrian Rally, Grizedale Rally, and Malton Rally.

Powering the Proton Iriz R5 is a 4B11T turbo mill taken from Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, thus dropping the 1.6-litre to meet WRC2 and R5 regulations. While the car’s driveline is sourced from Xtrac, suspension and brakes come from Reiger and Brembo, respectively.