Proton Competition's Daytona Debut

Historic Start at Endurance Classic

Proton Competition will make a historic double debut at the renowned Rolex 24 at Daytona, commencing a thrilling new motorsport season. The endurance spectacle, scheduled for 27/28th of January at the Daytona International Speedway, Florida, represents a unique challenge for the German team. In a first for Daytona, Proton Competition will field their Mustang Sampling Porsche 963 in the top-tier GTP class and debut their 1st Phorm Mustang GT3 in the GTD class.

The driver lineup for the #5 Mustang Sampling Porsche 963 includes Gianmaria Bruni, Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, and Alessio Picariello, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's traditional season opener. The 1st Phorm Mustang GT3, numbered 55, will be helmed by Ryan Hardwick, Dennis Olsen, Giammarco Leverato, and Corey Lewis.

Reflecting on last year's double victory at Daytona with their Oreca-07 Gibson (LMP2) and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 (GTD Pro) for WeatherTech Racing, Team Principal and CTO Michael Ried shared, "For our team, this double start is another exciting challenge in this unique race. We've proven our capability with last year's class victories. The whole team is eagerly anticipating a successful motorsport year kickoff."

Christian Ried, another Team principal of Proton Competition, added, "Daytona's fascination is global. To lead after 24 hours, one needs a flawlessly prepared car, swift drivers, and a robust team. We've established these conditions for a triumphant season start with our partners."

Drivers shared their anticipation and strategies. Despite lacking test kilometres, Gianmaria Bruni expressed his excitement about competing in Daytona's top class, emphasizing the importance of the race for the team's first full season with the 963. In seeking his first Daytona win, Romain Dumas aims to leverage his extensive endurance experience to support the team.

Ryan Hardwick, after his Le Mans Series win with Proton Competition last year, looks forward to participating in a significant race like Daytona. Giammarco Leverato described Daytona as a highlight for any racer, hoping it sets a strong tone for the season.

Daytona International Speedway, a 5,729-kilometre track with fast banked turns and a challenging infield, is the heart of US motorsport. The 24-hour race annually attracts elite teams from diverse global racing series.

The race kicks off on Saturday, the 27th of January, at 13:40 local time (19:40 CET) and is available outside the USA via live stream on www.imsa.com. As Proton Competition gears up for this significant event, the racing world watches with bated breath, anticipating a thrilling start to the motorsport season.