Longyou, China, 15 November 2009 - Proton R3 Malaysia Rally Team certainly showed its pace against more established teams in its first outing in China with a strong 4th overall after leg 1 in a field comprising of 81 competitors.

Unfortunately, the team finally fell victim to the unusually high attrition rate in this rally with suspension damage forcing the team to retire half-way through the 2nd leg.  Over half the field of competitors were also forced to retire with similar problems.

The damage became apparent to the drivers after the 13th stage of the rally forcing them to slow their pace down considerably.  Unable to continue safely, the drivers had no choice but to return to the service park.

The Team is already busy preparing for this weekends Rally Scotland, which is part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2009.

It will give McRae the chance to compete on home soil and he admitted he was ready for the challenge.

"I'm really looking forward to competing at home again," he said. "I've done some of the stages that make up the event as they formed part of the McRae Stages rally and some were also part of the British Rally Championship when I competed in the mid 1990s."

"Hopefully, we'll have a chance to carry out a small test before the event but realistically, I think it'll be little more than a shakedown, because of the tight deadlines with me arriving. Again, this car will use the revised components and a few more changes as we move forward in what is effectively the car's first year of competition and development."