1996 – 2003: On the global stage

Proton Competition came into existence in 1996 under the stewardship of team founder Gerold Ried. We took our first steps in international motorsport with the Porsche 993 GT2, entering the popular FIA GT Championship. The series provided a stable, successful basis for the team to develop and flourish. Over time, Proton Competition became a household name on the global racing scene.

What was special about this car?

The Porsche 993 GT2 was a mainstay of GT racing for nearly a decade. So successful was the model that we continued to campaign it well beyond the debut of its successor, the 996 GT3 R. Proton Competition raced the model for the best part of a decade from 1996 to 2003, competing in over 100 races.

Gerold and Christian Ried lead a gaggle of Porsche in their #7 993 GT2 during the 2000 FIA GT Championship season.

What did we achieve with this car?

With our early racing programmes taking us all over the world – from Laguna Seca in the United States to Zhuhai in China – the class podium at the 1999 Fuji 1000km will live long in the memory. Racing alongside the likes of Toyota and Nissan prototypes augured well for our future trajectory, too. There was also success closer to home as well, with our first top 3 finish in class at a major 24-hour endurance race – the 2005 Spa 24 Hours – with Christian Ried, Gerold Ried, Horst Felbermayr Sr. and Horst Felbermayr Jr.

What was special about the driver pairings?

Proton Competition has always been a family affair. Founded by Gerold Ried in 1996 – who also took the wheel in the team’s early years – it wasn’t long before his sons, Michael and Christian, joined the effort. Christian began racing for the team in 1999 and became team principal, while Michael soon assumed the role of team owner and technical director.

How did the relationship with Porsche come about?

Porsche has long been a dedicated supporter of customer racing, particularly in the GT ranks. In the simpler days of the GT2 era, it was relatively straightforward to purchase a car and go racing – and that’s exactly how Proton Competition got its start. Over the years, the team’s close relationship with Weissach only grew deepened into a bond that would endure for the next 20 years and beyond.