Photo: DPPI/ELMS
ProSpeed Competition will be stepping up to the global stage this year, having confirmed an entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The Belgian squad, run by Rudi Penders, will field a 2012-spec Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for drivers Francois Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and 19-year-old rising star Matthieu Vaxiviere.
The deal to move to the FIA WEC came through French businessman Perrodo, who along with Collard, competed together in a ProSpeed Porsche in the European Le Mans Series last year.
“The trust placed in us by François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard confirms the well-founded merits of our philosophy,” Penders said. “The “Pro-Am” program was sealed early on during the offseason.”
Perrodo, alongside Collard, raced an AF Corse Ferrari in the season-ending Six Hours of Bahrain as a toe-in-the-water experience, with a final decision having been made shortly after.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to compete in the WEC,” Perrodo said. “It’ s of a high level, the races are far away and practically all the circuits are new for me. I’m fully aware of the extent of the task in hand but the motivation is enormous.”
The team will utilize one of its existing 997-based Porsches instead of a new 2013-spec Porsche 911 RSR, which German outfit Proton Competition will campaign in GTE-Am.
ProSpeed, along with SMP Racing and Ram Racing will be among the new blood in the FIA WEC paddock this year, which sees a near-bumper 31-car entry.
