GTE Am new boys get started at The Prologue (PART 1)
The Prologue at Monza presented an opportunity to get to know some new faces in the WEC paddock. This year’s LMGTE Am class features several debutants, among them Porsche young guns Marvin Dienst (Dempsey-Proton Racing) and Nick Foster (Gulf Racing).
At just 20 years of age, Dienst is one of the youngest drivers in the 2017 WEC and excited to prove himself against the best sportscar racers in the world.
Hailing from Worms in Germany, a stone’s throw from the town where Sebastien Vettel grew up, Dienst has made rapid progress through the ranks since his dominant run to the ADAC Formula 4 championship in 2015, but has just one year of GT experience under his belt.
Dempsey-Proton Racing has a new tyre supplier in Dunlop for this year, which will only steepen the learning curve, but Dienst is confident that he can repay the faith shown in him by Proton boss Christian Ried.
“To have the confidence in a 20-year-old young driver who has nearly zero experience in a GT car is quite a huge step for the team,” he said. “I appreciate what kind of step it is, so I have to say thank you so much to Christian, I really appreciate the chance that I am getting as a young driver.
“The step to the RSR was massive, but straight away I felt really confident with it so let’s see how it goes.”
Porsche specialist Nick Foster is another to make his debut this year in the Gulf Racing 911 RSR, ensuring Australian fans have a rising star to cheer following the retirement of Mark Webber.
The London-based 25-year-old joins Ben Barker and Mike Wainwright at the team, which topped all three sessions on the first day of running at The Prologue.
“The WEC is the biggest platform there is in sportscar racing, regardless of what class you’re in, so I’m super stoked that it came together, and to be racing in such a nice car as the Porsche 911 RSR,” said Foster.
“We have a new partner in Dunlop this year so there’s a lot there to learn not just from my side but from the team’s as well, but everything has been a positive so far. Stepping into the RSR with the rear-engine, I knew that it would have that 911 feel, although obviously there’s a lot more aero and better braking.
“I expect the crazy stuff to start at Silverstone and continue for the rest of the year, but it’s all been pretty straight forward for now!”
