11.11.2025Le Mans 2021: Extraordinary milestone for the Proton team

Only two teams can claim to have competed in every race of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) since its inception in 2012. One of them is from Germany: Proton Competition.

The team, run by brothers Christian and Michael Ried and based in Ummendorf, Baden-Württemberg, fielded a Porsche 963 in the Hypercar class during the 2025 WEC season and also entered two Ford Mustangs in the GT3 category. However, the team is primarily associated with Porsche entries. With the cars from Zuffenhausen, the long-established team has consistently made its mark in the WEC over the past 14 years.

This also applies to the 2021 Le Mans edition. In the GTE Am category, Proton entered three Porsche 911 RSR-19s. The entry was named Dempsey-Proton Racing, a nod to the partnership with Hollywood actor and team co-owner Patrick Dempsey.

The driver trio in car number 88 was particularly interesting. From a German perspective, Lance David Arnold's Le Mans debut was noteworthy. The Duisburg native received strong support from Julien Andlauer. The Frenchman had promptly secured a class victory with Proton in his Le Mans debut three years earlier and was now competing for the fourth time with the experienced team.

Interestingly, Arnold and Andlauer, combined, were still significantly younger than the third driver in the trio. Dominique Bastien contested the race at the age of 75, making him the oldest participant in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The previous year, the French-born, now US-based entrepreneur had already broken the existing age record at the wheel of a Proton Porsche. However, the gentleman driver was unable to finish the race that year.

Bastien was able to rectify this success in 2021. The Proton Porsche finished 13th, second to last in the GTE Am category. Julien Andlauer had previously secured pole position in the class for the 911 during the Hyperpole session.

Ixo has released a model in scale 1:18 of the Porsche 911 RSR-19 fielded by Dempsey-Proton Racing and driven by Dominique Bastien. The model features the typical Proton livery of gray with light blue accents and accurately reflects the original.

Porsche 911 RSR-19 #88 Proton 24h Le Mans 2021 Andlauer, Arnold, Bastien 1:18, MSRP €79.95, item-no.: LEGT18-23013

produits

Porsche 911 RSR-19 #88 Proton 24h LeMans 2021 Andlauer, Arnold, Bastien 1:18 Ixo

71,96 €