Proton Competition eager to make a statement at season opener in Sepang
Ummendorf – The Asian Le Mans Series will kick off the 2024/2025 season with two four-hour races at the Sepang International Circuit on 7 and 8 December. Following last year’s successful premiere, Proton Competition will line up on the grid at the season opener in Malaysia with two Oreca 07-Gibson race cars in the LMP2 class. In the GT classification, the largest field of competitors, the team from Ummendorf, Germany, will field two Porsche 911 GT3s, one of them for Team Iron Dames. In total, 29 teams represented by 42 cars and 125 drivers from 36 nations will compete in the season opener.
After Sepang, the Asian Le Mans Series calendar includes two more races in Dubai (8/9 February) and Abu Dhabi (15/16 February). At its premiere last year, Proton Competition secured three podium finishes in Sepang, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Christian and Michael Ried’s team finished second in the championship.
The Proton teams in Sepang
LMP2: Alexander Matschull (GER), Jonas Ried (GER), Mathias Beche (SUI), Oreca 07-Gibson (#11).
LMP2: Giorgio Roda (ITA), Vladislav Lomko (RUS), Tom Dillmann (FRA), Oreca 07-Gibson (#22).
GT: Claudio Schiavone (SUI), Matteo Cressoni (ITA), Alessio Picariello (BEL), Porsche 911 GT3 (#60).
GT: Célia Martin (FRA), Sarah Bovy (BEL), Michelle Gatting (DEN), Porsche 911 GT3 (#85). This car is fielded for Team Iron Dames.
Comments before the race
Michael Ried, Team Principal and CTO Proton Competition: “After our successful debut season, we’re looking forward to our second year in this highly competitive championship. We’re well prepared and want to make a statement in Sepang.”
Christian Ried, Team Principal Proton Competition: “The Asian Le Mans Series is an exciting challenge for us again this season with races in interesting markets. We’re competing in the two strongest classes with a promising field of adversaries. After our podium finishes last season, we have our sights set on victory.”
Alexander Matschull (Oreca 07-Gibson #11): “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to drive the season opener of the Asian Le Mans Series for Proton Competition. I’m looking forward to the races in Sepang. The main attraction of this championship for me is that we’ll be fighting for overall victory.”
Jonas Ried (Oreca 07-Gibson #11): “I gained important experience in my first season in the Asian Le Mans Series. I’m convinced that I’ll be able to benefit from this in the opening races in Sepang.”
Mathias Beche (Oreca 07-Gibson #11): “Driving in Asia with a team as experienced as Proton Competition is a fantastic opportunity for me. I can’t wait. Sepang will no doubt be an exciting start to the season. I hope we can secure the result the team deserves in Malaysia.”
Giorgio Roda (Oreca 07-Gibson #22): “We’ve only just finished the last race in the European Le Mans Series and the first race of the Asian Le Mans Series is already getting underway. I’m thrilled to be back in this championship. We finished second last year. If we want to improve, we have to win. That is precisely our goal. The LMP2 class is extremely strong and I can’t wait for the action to start in Sepang.”
Tom Dillmann (Oreca 07-Gibson #22): “I’m looking forward to start working with Proton Competition. I believe that we have very good ingredients to fight for the championship with a strong team and driver line-up. Now it is about executing together..”
Matteo Cressoni (Porsche 911 GT3 #60): “With so many starters, the Asian Le Mans Series is a tough challenge – simultaneously, it serves as excellent training for the European Le Mans Series 2025.”
Alessio Picariello (Porsche 911 GT3 #60): “I last contested the ALMS in 2016. So, I’m all the more looking forward to returning to this exciting championship with Claudio and Matteo by my side.”
Sarah Bovy (Porsche 911 GT3 #85): “This race in Sepang will be the last of 2024 and first of 2025. That makes this first round of ALMS extra special for us. I can’t wait to see our trio working together for the first time and I’m looking forward to meet with our Proton crew on the track.”
Michelle Gatting (Porsche 911 GT3 #85): “Super excited to be racing in the Asian Le Mans Series. It’s a championship I’ve always followed closely from home and now we get the chance to race in it ourselves. I can’t wait to share the cockpit with Sarah and Celia. I feel very confident that we can do well all together and prepare for 2025.”
Celia Martin (Porsche 911 GT3 #85): “Looking forward to the ALMS with Sarah and Michi with Proton Competition. It was looking promising at the ELMS Rookie Test and I am sure I am gonna be in good hands with all them to prepare the 2025 season.”
The race track
Opened in 1999, the Sepang International Circuit is a Formula 1 circuit located around 85 kilometres south of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. It spans 5.543 kilometres and twists through 15 corners.
The schedule
The four-hour races at the Sepang International Circuit will commence on 7 and 8 December at 14:00 local time (07:00 CES). A live stream of all races is available at asianlemansseries.com.
