Photo : Laurent CARTALADE - VSA

 

Last year, Proton Competition clinched third place in the LM GTE Am Team Trophy at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), thanks to consistent performances by the trio Christian Reid, driver and team owner, Klaus Bachler and Khaled Al Qubaisi. While they couldn't claim any race victories, they came second in their category at Le Mans.

The trio will be back racing this year with Porsche 911 RSR n°88. However, the name Proton Competition is no longer used, except for the 6th reserve car on the entry list for the 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours, as the team has been renamed Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing.
Similarly, now the Dempsey Racing team has put an end to its activities on American soil, the Dempsey Racing-Proton formation seen at Le Mans is known as Dempsey-Proton Racing. Patrick Dempsey, star of American TV series Grey's Anatomy, made no secret of his desire to take part in the FIA World Endurance Championship and an agreement was reached on a partnership with Christian Reid's team.

In Porsche n°77, the actor - best known for his role as Dr Shepherd in the TV drama - will be back with Patrick Long, official Porsche driver with whom he competed in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship last year and at the twice-round-the-clock race in Le Mans last year (coming 5th in LM GTE Am). They will be joined by Marco Seefried, one of the winners in the GTD category at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2014.

Both cars will make their debut at the Prologue, the official testing session prior to the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship, on 27 and 28 March at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Castellet, with free entry for spectators on 28 March (on reservation).

Text Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated by Clair Pickworth

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SUNDAY 08 JUNE 2014, SCRUTINEERING. The same team again for Porsche n°88 while duo Patrick Dempsey & Patrick Long will be joined by Marco Seefried.