FIA WEC season kicks off in Imola

Proton Competition returns to FIA World Endurance Championship action on the weekend of 17 to 19 April 2026 for its 15th season of competition in the global motorsport series. The championship gets underway with the 6 Hours of Imola at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the picturesque surroundings of Emilia-Romagna. The team from southern Germany and Ford have a clear aim: to continue on their positive trajectory and score further podium finishes and race wins.

Christian and Michael Ried’s squad will be competing a pair of Ford Mustang LMGT3 in the hard-fought LMGT3 category against the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette across eight races held across five different continents.

“We have already achieved pole position and podium finishes with the Ford Mustang GT3,” said team principal Christian Ried. “Now our top priority is getting that first win under our belt. With so little to separate the manufacturers in the class, it’s important that we also finish consistently to maximise our championship hopes.”

Back for their third full season with the team and competing in their home race at the season-opener are Italians Giammarco Levorato and Stefano Gattuso. They will be joined by former Formula 1 racer Logan Sargeant in the #88 machine.

There are two new faces in the #77 car, as US driver Eric Powell and Guernsey-born Sebastian Priaulx make their GT3 debuts for Proton Competition. Continuity in the #77 driver line-up is provided by the third driver, Briton Ben Tuck.

After the season kicks off in Imola, the FIA WEC travels to Spa-Francorchamps for round two before the season highlight, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in June. Three six-hour races then follow in Brazil, the United States and Japan before the season concludes with two longer events in Qatar and Bahrain in the autumn. All the action can be followed live on the FIA WEC’s new streaming service, FIAWEC+.

Schedule

Friday 17 April
10:15 – 11:45 Practice 1
15:15 – 16:45 Practice 2

Saturday 18 April
10:30 – 11:30 Practice 3
14:30 – 15:00 Qualifying

Sunday 19 April
13:00 – 19:00 Race

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Copyright: Proton Competition (Paola Depalmas)