The Southern African Endurance Series has forged a new partnership with the Malaysian vehicle brand Proton and the Chinese light commercial vehicle manufacturer Foton for the supply of a range of vehicles for the essential roles of Safety car, Course car, Recovery vehicle and general support vehicle as required by SAES, starting with the Three-Hour and Nine-Hour of Kyalami at the end of November.
The tie-in between Proton, Foton and the SA Endurance National Championship is a natural match as reliability, durability and performance are pre-requisites for both the endurance championship competitors and the man-in-the-street making a purchase decision.
Proton and Foton CEO Marius Smal said: “We have been looking for a marketing opportunity for our brands and the SA Endurance Series offers us that, as South African’s love motor racing and the great outdoors and our vehicles fit perfectly into that lifestyle.
It took one meeting to make a sound business decision and we are thrilled at the opportunities the SA Endurance Championship offers to us. The live coverage of the races on SuperSport and the YouTube live-streaming over the next season will offer us tremendous exposure.”
The Proton X50 will be deployed as the safety car, and with 130kW on tap, is more than sufficient to keep the snarling pack of racers in check when called upon to take to the track.
Proton is also supplying an X90 petrol-hybrid SUV as a support vehicle to SAES, with myriad tasks needing to be undertaken during a race weekend, from circuit safety inspections to hauling branding material and trophies to the circuit.
When cars need to be recovered from the circuit to resume safe racing, SAES can call upon their Foton Tunland G7 double cab which boasts 120kW and a three-ton towing capacity, more than enough to recover the relatively featherweight racing machinery.
In addition to supplying the vehicles required for the smooth running of the double-header race meeting, Proton and Foton is supplying vehicles to shuttle VIP guests from the main gate to the VIP lounge in the main pit building.
SAES CEO Wayne Riddell is excited about the new partnership with Proton and Foton. ”The safety car is crucial to the safe running of an endurance race and to have a stylish, powerful car like the Proton X50 at our disposal adds a dynamic new element to our series while the powerful Foton Tunland will be able to haul the most errant competitor out of the deepest gravel trap he or she may embed themselves in.”
“This new relationship is set until the end of 2025, but I am extremely confident the relationship will be extended into a multiyear deal before we return to next year’s Nine hour” Riddell added.
Foton light commercial vehicles are sold and serviced by a network of 50 dealers nationally – set to grow to 60 before the year is out – while 22 dealers around South Africa take care of Proton sales and service requirements.
Both brands share a 10 000m² warehouse facility with R70m worth of spare parts to service Tunland vehicles which carry a five year, 200 000km warranty while Proton’s three-car SUV line-up all come with a five-year, unlimited km warranty.
The Three-Hour and Nine-Hour of Kyalami takes place on 29th and 30th November and besides the thrilling, championship-deciding racing, offers a family-oriented outing with a 16-artist music festival, flea market stalls, big screen TVs around the circuit, a food court and a 100-racing simulators on the top floor of the main pit building.
