Proton Competition has confirmed to DSC that it will double up its current single European Le Mans Series LMP2 entry in 2024 and add the Asian Le Mans Series to its plans.
Whilst much of the recent interest in the German squad has been around its ambitious Hypercar and GTP programmes with Porsche and its forthcoming LMGT3 efforts with the new Ford Mustang, the expansion of the team’s LMP2 programme is significant. It provides the team, co-owned by brothers Christian and Michael Ried, with a substantially reinforced step on the sportscar range ladder.
There are no details yet to share on the driver line-ups for either car, but third-generation racer Jonas Ried (son of Christian) is likely to return for a second full season in LMP2.
DSC understands that Proton have obtained the car and LMP2 equipment from Prema Racing who switch to the Iron Lynx-run Lamborghini Hypercar programme in 2024.
This news comes with the deadline for entries to be submitted for the 2023/2024 Asian Le Mans Series season fast approaching.
DSC has been busy in the paddock at Motorland Aragon this week, finding out whether teams from the ELMS and Le Mans Cup are ready to count themselves in for the fun five-race, three-venue 2024 season. With two races in Sepang set for December, the upcoming campaign sees the Asian Le Mans Series return to Southeast Asia in December for the first time since 2020.
There will be plenty of news – including some surprises – in the coming days here that will show that despite some predictions, the level and quality of LMP2 entry in particular is looking set to be very strong.
First things first, to qualify for the single auto-invitation to the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans the Series needs to attract no fewer than six full-season entries in the class. DSC can say with confidence that the entry for all five races, (two at Sepang in December, one at Dubai and two at Yas Marina in February), looks likely to easily reach that level and could well substantially exceed it.
