Jani to Complete Proton’s GTP Lineup at Petit Le Mans

Photo: Porsche

Neel Jani will complete Proton Competition’s GTP class lineup for Motul Petit Le Mans, with the German squad bringing its third FIA World Endurance Championship driver on board for the season-ending IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round next month.

Team principal Christian Ried confirmed to Sportscar365 that the 39-year-old Swiss driver will join Harry Tincknell and Gianmaria Bruni at the wheel of the No. 59 Porsche 963 in the ten-hour enduro at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

It will mark Jani’s return to the event for the first time since being part of the overall winning lineup of the race in 2013, at the wheel of a Rebellion Racing Lola B12/60 Toyota.

Ried, meanwhile said there’s no update on the team’s 2024 plans in the WeatherTech Championship despite the ambition of fielding two Porsche 963s full-time, alongside a dual effort in the WEC.

Sportscar365 understands that its GTD Pro effort with WeatherTech Racing is currently up in the air.

“We have a lot of discussions but nothing confirmed, nothing fixed,” Ried said. “It’s complicated with the calendars.

“The most important for us is to get the ELMS calendar to see what clashes and then we can make a decision. There’s already enough clashes with IMSA and WEC, which is not great.”

Ried denied paddock rumors that he’s held discussions with Mike Shank for a potential partnership in the WeatherTech Championship next year.

Shank is known to be exploring opportunities to keep his Ohio-based team active in the series while facing an uncertain future amid no currently confirmed program with Acura for 2024.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John