Ride with Alister McRae in the Satria Neo Super 2000 rally car: with video!

Posted by Harvinder

December 16, 2009

Couple of days ago I was given the opportunity to take a ride with Alister McRae in the Satria Neo S2000 rally car on a short rally circuit in Sepang, Malaysia. The event was organized by Proton and it gave a selected few the chance of sitting in the passenger seat while an experienced rally driver brings out of the best from the car. The event kick started at 5.00 pm local time and was ‘blessed’ with the typical Sepang weather. Remember the “out of this world” downpour that red-flagged this year’s Malaysian Grand Prix? Well, we got the similar ‘wet’ treatment as well.

But unlike the Formula 1 race, the organizers were somewhat looking forward to the rain, thinking that it would be more fun, which was true when I found out eventually. As mentioned the man behind the wheel was Alister McRae, with a very familiar last name because he is the brother of late rally God Colin McRae. The Satria Neo S2000 under him outputs 278hp and 271Nm of torque from its normally-aspirated 2.0 liter 4-pot. It is a Renault-sourced engine which is also found in the Proton Waja in a 1.8 form. The entire car was prepped by UK’s Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM) and features a 6-speed Xtrac sequential transmission.

McRae, partnered by co-driver Bill Hayes raced the Satria Neo S2000 in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) as well as in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) this year and the campaign is scheduled to continue next year. In fact, the duo just came back from a second place finish at IRC’s Rally of Scotland. Back to the quick experience report. As the car returned to pick me up, I was able to hear to rumble of the engine about 100 meters away. I nestled myself onto the co-driver’s race seat and straight away gripped the roll cage bars. Away we went and I noticed that keeping the Neo S2000 smooth at low speeds looked a little difficult for the average Joe, it begs the driver to drive the car in racing mode all the time.

McRae was keeping his cool while we headed towards the rally circuit. Once there, he hit the gas and I was instantly pushed back further into the seat and my first expression: “arrrggghhhhh!!!” It was already about 6.00 pm and it was raining, so you can already imagine how dark it was. On top of that, the circuit was part of a palm oil plantation and having trees all over also helped reduce sunlight.

I mentioned that McRae kept his cool while heading to the circuit, well guess what? He was still cool when he was pushing it. I was screaming like there is no tomorrow as the Neo S2000 was driven on slippery, muddy surface. The element of fear was evident all the time as just about a meter or two from the car was a tree, all the time! And yet, McRae looked as though he was having evening tea!

The car looked like it was out of control but McRae was able to keep it in control. Through out the entire 2 kilometer circuit McRae looked like he was part of the car. Everything was so ‘fluid’ and I really respect the level of commitment a rally driver gives behind the wheel! This is where experience, good judgment and ‘bravery’ come into play. I was just lucky enough to go home with a dry pair of pants! Well, talking or in this case, writing can only do so much, hence we have something better, yes a video! Continue reading to check out the 2 minute 29 second-long video.