2007 – 2013: Conquering Le Mans

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997) marked a major turning point in our racing ambitions, opening the door to the Le Mans Series. We went on to become a firm fixture in the International Le Mans Cup and its successor series, the FIA World Endurance Championship.

What was special about this car?

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997) laid the groundwork for the highly successful Porsche GTE platform that went on to define GT racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for over a decade. Compared to other forms of GT racing, GTE regulations placed greater emphasis on technical sophistication, demanding increased development efforts from manufacturers.

As Proton Competition expanded its horizons, it went head-to-head with the giants of GT racing on the world stage – seen here trading blows with Corvette at Petit Le Mans in 2011.

What did we achieve with this car?

Where to start? Three team championships – in the 2009 and 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – gave us a taste of what was to come. Another highlight was undoubtedly our maiden class win at Le Mans in 2010 with Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz and Wolf Henzler.

Porsche factory drivers soon joined the effort, with Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz (pictured here in Le Castellet in 2011) among the most successful for Proton Competition.

How did the partnership with Porsche develop further?

What began as a customer racing partnership quickly evolved into full works support. From 2007, factory drivers Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, and Wolf Henzler began competing for Proton Competition as Porsche pursued class victories in GTE racing. By then, Proton Competition had developed into the kind of team Porsche could trust with such a critical programme.

At only the team’s fourth appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011, Proton Competition entered three Porsche 911 RSR across two classes.

How did the Le Mans story begin?

Our participation in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans marked a major milestone in our journey as a team. Taking on the world’s most prestigious endurance race was both a challenge and an honour – and one that sparked a lasting commitment. That debut appearance paved the way for many more, and we’re proud to say we’ve competed in every single edition of Le Mans since.