Dumas, Picariello Complete Proton GTP Lineup for Daytona

Proton Competition has enlisted Romain Dumas and Alessio Picariello to complete its Porsche 963 lineup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, while at the same time confirming plans to embark on a full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign with the Ford Mustang GT3.

Dumas and Picariello will join the previously confirmed Gianmaria Bruni and Neel Jani aboard the No. 5 Mustang Sampling-sponsored GTP class entry, which will make its Daytona debut.

Dumas’ most recent Daytona appearances came across two years with CORE autosport.

Picariello, meanwhile, is set for his top-class debut after several years of racing Porsche machinery in GT3 and GTE competition.

The reigning European Le Mans Series GTE champion made two WeatherTech Championship starts in 2022 and recently reaffirmed his commitment to Porsche after taking part in Nissan’s annual SUPER GT ‘shootout’ test late last year.

“In order to be successful at Daytona, you need a perfectly prepared car, fast drivers and a strong team,” said team owner Christian Ried.

“Together with our partners, we’ve worked hard to create the best possible conditions for a successful start to the new motorsport year.”

Proton GTD Effort Expands to Full Season Entry

In addition to confirming the final two drivers of its GTP lineup, Proton has announced that its No. 55 Ford Mustang GT3 is set to contest the full WeatherTech Championship season.

The German squad’s GTD entry did not appear on IMSA’s full season entry list last October and was originally set to contest only the Rolex 24, but will now embark on a full GTD campaign with Giammarco Levorato and Corey Lewis as drivers.

Silver-rated Levorato formed part of Proton’s ELMS effort last season and took a GTE class win alongside Ried and Julien Andlauer at Paul Ricard.

WeatherTech Championship stalwart Lewis, meanwhile, served as the endurance driver for Paul Miller Racing’s GTD effort in 2023.

The two drivers will be joined by Ryan Hardwick for the five Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, who will dovetail that role with a campaign racing the Mustang GT3 in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Newly minted Ford Performance factory driver Dennis Olsen, meanwhile, will complete the lineup at Daytona.