AUGUST 19, 2000
Yamaha and Petronas
THE news from Japan that the Yamaha Motor Company is to produce a small capacity engine for the Petronas-owned Proton car company in Malaysia could have interesting implications in Formula 1.
Proton boss Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff said recently that the company's future is as a supplier of engineering skills rather than as a car company which is line with Yamaha's philosophy. Yamaha supplies its engine technology to industry giants Toyota and Ford. The Yamaha agreement will provide a third source of engine technology for the Proton-Petronas, joining the existing relationships with Sauber and with Lotus.