The return of the European Le Mans Series to Imola was not a good one for Proton Competition: After the successful start to the season at Le Castellet, only the Porsche 911 RSR with start number 93 crossed the finish line at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Michael Fassbender (Ireland), Richard Lietz (Austria) and Zach Robichon (USA) finished eighth in the GTE class. The number 77 911 RSR retired in the first hour of the race after an accident. The same fate later befell the 911 RSR (car number 18) of Absolute Racing, which was serviced by Proton Competition, after contact with a prototype.

Quotes after the race
Michael Ried, Team owner and Technical Director: "There are such days in motorsport. We have to put this disappointment away as quickly as possible and then concentrate fully motivated on the difficult tasks that lie ahead. I'm thinking in particular of the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

Christian Ried (Porsche 911 RSR #77): "After our successful start to the season at Le Castellet, we had also calculated a lot for Imola. Unfortunately, our plan did not work out. But we are looking ahead and will come back all the stronger after this disappointing weekend."

Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 RSR #93): "We made the most of our opportunities today. There was nothing more to it, although we were also very confident for Imola after our podium at the start of the season."

Quotes after the race
Michael Ried, Team owner and Technical Director: "There are such days in motorsport. We have to put this disappointment away as quickly as possible and then concentrate fully motivated on the difficult tasks that lie ahead. I'm thinking in particular of the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

Christian Ried (Porsche 911 RSR #77): "After our successful start to the season at Le Castellet, we had also calculated a lot for Imola. Unfortunately, our plan did not work out. But we are looking ahead and will come back all the stronger after this disappointing weekend."

Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 RSR #93): "We made the most of our opportunities today. There was nothing more to it, although we were also very confident for Imola after our podium at the start of the season."

Race result
class GTE

Al Harthy/Sörensen/de Haan (OMN/DK/GB), Aston Martin Vantage, 121 laps
Hartshorne/Chaves/Adam (GB/P/GB), Aston Martin Vantage, 120
Kimura/Schandorff/Jensen (J/DK/DK), Ferrari F488, 120
Cameron/Griffin/Perel (GB/IRL/ZA), Ferrari F488, 120
Petrobelli/Hudspeth/Payne (GB/SGP/NZ), Ferrari F488, 120
Schiavoni/Cressoni/Rigon (I/I/I), Ferrari F488, 119
Fassbender/Robichon/Lietz (IRL/USA/A), Porsche 911 RSR, 117

The series
In the European Le Mans Series ELMS, the LMP2, LMP3 and GTE classes are on the grid. They drive a joint four-hour race, but are evaluated separately. Proton Competition starts with the Porsche 911 RSR in the GTE class.

This is how it continues
The next outing for Proton Competition in the European Le Mans Series is the four-hour race in Monza/Italy on 3 July.