Proton to Support Iron Lynx Porsche GTE Effort

Proton Competition will support Iron Lynx’s single-season GTE program with Porsche in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series this year.

Iron Lynx is fielding Porsche 911 RSR-19s in the final year of GTE, as a stopgap before its Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s become eligible for the WEC and ELMS in 2024.

The team previously ran Ferrari 488 GTE Evos in both series but moved away from the Italian manufacturer when it signed a deal to work on the Lamborghini LMDh program.

For its planned single year with the 911 RSR, Iron Lynx has enlisted experienced Porsche operator Proton Competition to provide both cars, as well some equipment and staff.

“It’s a collaboration between Iron Lynx, Iron Dames and Proton,” Iron Lynx team principal Andrea Piccini told Sportscar365.

“The cars will be entered by Iron Lynx and Iron Dames. You will see a fully-dressed Iron Lynx team.

“On our side, for one season it didn’t make any sense to try and buy cars. Christian is a very nice guy. We know them since a long time, so I think there will be a very nice cooperation between the two teams.

“It will be some of our people on the team like engineers, but for sure we will get very good support from them.

“It was important for us to stay in WEC to continue preparing for future years. We have never hidden that our aim is to be back in WEC with the Lamborghini GT3.”

Proton is now set to be involved in four of the six Porsche GTE-Am entries that are signed up for the WEC season, considering it also has two cars entered under its own name.

“We are happy wo be working with Iron Lynx,” said team owner Christian Ried.

“After racing against them for a long time, it’s nice to have them in the team. I’m looking forward to it.”

Iron Lynx Confirms ELMS Entry, Driver Lineups

In addition to its two-car WEC program, Iron Lynx will enter the ELMS with a single Proton-supported Porsche to continue a presence in the series that started in 2020.

Previously, the team had only confirmed the WEC entries without mentioning ELMS.

Claudio Schiavoni, Matteo Cressoni and Matteo Cairoli will share the No. 60 Porsche in the six-round European season, which starts at Barcelona on April 23.

Schiavoni and Cressoni are also teaming up in the WEC GTE-Am class alongside Alessio Picarello, who won the ELMS GTE title with Proton in 2020.

The other WEC entry for the Iron Dames trio of Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy was announced last month.

“It is great to see some new faces in the Iron Lynx car No. 60 lineup this season,” said Piccini.

“I’d like to wish Matteo Cairoli and Alessio Picariello a very warm welcome to the team, I am looking forward to working together.”