Mustang crews promise to go ‘all in’ as Proton Competition completes LMGT3 line-up

In its first season of FIA WEC competition last year, the Mustang achieved a podium finish in-class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and scored points in five of the other seven races. The car has since gone on to further prove its prowess in last weekend’s 24 Hours of Daytona, where Dennis Olsen, Christopher Mies and Frédéric Vervisch triumphed in the GTD Pro category, with the sister Mustang taking the chequered flag third.

The Norwegian was already confirmed late last year as part of Proton Competition’s LMGT3 roster for the forthcoming campaign. He will be joined in the #88 entry by series newcomer Stefano Gattuso – who sampled the Mustang in the Bahrain ‘Rookie Test’ back in November – and fellow Italian Giammarco Levorato, runner-up for the team in the European Le Mans Series’ LMGTE division in 2023.

“I’m super-excited to be returning to the FIA World Endurance Championship in the Mustang LMGT3,” enthused Olsen. “We have already seen, at Daytona, that we’ve made a lot of progress through the winter. I hope we can make the best of that in this championship.

“We have a new line-up with Proton Competition, along with new liveries. The cars are looking great, and we’re looking forward to getting back. We placed third at Le Mans last year, so I want to go two better. I want to win it. We’ll go ‘all-in’!”

“FIA WEC is one of the most prestigious championships in the world,” added Gattuso, hailing what he described as an ‘incredible opportunity’. “Being part of it this year feels like a dream come true, and I can’t wait to get started with the first race in Qatar. I’m feeling very optimistic and am committed to giving my absolute best.

“I was very impressed with the car during the Rookie Test in Bahrain; I think it has great potential. I’ve known Giammarco for a long time, and he’s a fast and consistent driver. As for Dennis, he needs no introduction – he’s a factory driver with immense experience and talent. I believe we have a well-balanced and strong line-up, and I’m confident we can deliver excellent results to repay the team’s trust in us.”

In the #77 car, the incumbent Ben Barker – a former Le Mans podium-finisher and an FIA WEC stalwart since 2016 – will be partnered by namesake and countryman Ben Tuck and Bernardo Sousa, who makes the switch from rallying to endurance racing.

“I’m very pleased with this chance to compete with Ford again,” commented the former Portuguese Rally Champion. “My relationship with the brand goes back to 2010. Now with Proton Competition and Ford Performance, I hope to have an amazing debut season in FIA WEC. It’s the best endurance championship I could do, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Competing in FIA WEC has been my goal since I started racing, having taken the sportscar route instead of single-seaters,” said Tuck, who spent last season behind the wheel of a JMW Motorsport-run Ferrari 296 GT3 in ELMS.

“To now say I’m doing that, with a fantastic team in Proton Competition and in a Ford Mustang, is very exciting! I have a good relationship with the team already since I competed at Le Mans last year in their third entry, so it should be a seamless introduction to the full championship for me. I can’t wait to get started!”

The action will get underway with the Qatar 1812km on 28 February, preceded by the traditional ‘Prologue’ group test at the same circuit.