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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Q&A With Romain Dumas
Porsche factory driver discusses new focus with 991 development program, the challenges of the WEC and Porsche LMP1...
Romain Dumas will drive for Porsche AG Team Manthey in next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Photo: John Dagys)
The 2013 season will mark a new chapter for Porsche factory driver Romain Dumas, who after four years of being on-loan to Audi for select LMP1 drives, shifts his focus back to GT racing entirely with the development of Porsche's new 991-based RSR for the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Dumas will join fellow works drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz in one of the GTE-Pro contenders fielded by Porsche AG Team Manthey for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with additional WEC races possible for fast Frenchman, who aims to return to America for select rounds as well.
SPEED.com caught up with the two-time ALMS P2 champion and 2010 Le Mans overall winner to get his thoughts on the season ahead, as well as the possibilities with Porsche's new LMP1 program, scheduled to debut in 2014.
Q: Are you looking forward to returning to GT racing in a higher capacity in 2013?
DUMAS: I have to say, I always have the same opinion of the GT and LMP categories. I mean, in GT you have a factory effort, with very high-level teams and professional drivers. I remembered racing in the GT category in ALMS: The battles were so hard! So of course, I am very excited to race again in this environment. And I am also happy to see Porsche coming back in a factory program and to be part of it.
Q: Are you expecting a big fight in GTE-Pro of the WEC?
DUMAS: Now having a true world championship is really nice for sports car and GT racing. I think the manufacturers need this platform. Now you have Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette and Viper in the U.S., and Porsche coming back as a factory team.
I’m looking forward to have a lot of great battles. I think it will be really tough and we will have to be really fast on track but also very good in the pits and in strategy. It looks very interesting and I hope the new 991 will allow us to fight at the front.
Q: How much testing have you done with the 991 so far? And what are your initial thoughts on the car?
DUMAS: I have tested the new 991 several times in private testing. From the very first laps, I felt the car much easier to drive. Every aspect has been improved and the front axle especially is better. I can't tell you too much before the car's presentation, though!
I always liked the RSR and this new one looks really nice. I can't wait to drive it in racing conditions. I never won Le Mans in GT so I hope the new 991 will be the car to achieve this.
Q: What do you think will be the biggest challenge of the 991 factory development program?
DUMAS: We have a new car and new team organization. We have to set all the things quickly to be ready to fight for the win. We will race against experienced teams who know their cars, the championship etc.
On one hand, we have the experience of Porsche AG. On the other hand, we have the experience of Team Manthey. We also know each other, as all the drivers have already raced with Team Manthey and we won together a lot of races, like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. We just have to do the same in WEC.
Q: In addition to your WEC duties with Manthey, do you have any other plans firmed up? Do you expect to be testing the new Porsche LMP1 next year?
DUMAS: Like every year I think I will race in VLN and 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where I want to win again. I am sure there will be some other races. Which ones, that is the question.
I hope to make some races in the U.S., like in the past years. I always enjoyed racing with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and you know that, first I really love to be in the U.S., so Petit Le Mans is one of my goals. So we will see... Why not also race at the Rolex 24, a race I also want to win after Le Mans, Spa and Nürburgring?
Regarding the LMP1, we will see. But for sure I can't wait to see the new car. Porsche means so much to me that driving this new prototype, for the return of the brand in the top category, and after the success of the RS Spyder... it would be a dream come true"
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Dumas will join fellow works drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz in one of the GTE-Pro contenders fielded by Porsche AG Team Manthey for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with additional WEC races possible for fast Frenchman, who aims to return to America for select rounds as well.
SPEED.com caught up with the two-time ALMS P2 champion and 2010 Le Mans overall winner to get his thoughts on the season ahead, as well as the possibilities with Porsche's new LMP1 program, scheduled to debut in 2014.
Q: Are you looking forward to returning to GT racing in a higher capacity in 2013?
DUMAS: I have to say, I always have the same opinion of the GT and LMP categories. I mean, in GT you have a factory effort, with very high-level teams and professional drivers. I remembered racing in the GT category in ALMS: The battles were so hard! So of course, I am very excited to race again in this environment. And I am also happy to see Porsche coming back in a factory program and to be part of it.
Q: Are you expecting a big fight in GTE-Pro of the WEC?
DUMAS: Now having a true world championship is really nice for sports car and GT racing. I think the manufacturers need this platform. Now you have Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette and Viper in the U.S., and Porsche coming back as a factory team.
I’m looking forward to have a lot of great battles. I think it will be really tough and we will have to be really fast on track but also very good in the pits and in strategy. It looks very interesting and I hope the new 991 will allow us to fight at the front.
Q: How much testing have you done with the 991 so far? And what are your initial thoughts on the car?
DUMAS: I have tested the new 991 several times in private testing. From the very first laps, I felt the car much easier to drive. Every aspect has been improved and the front axle especially is better. I can't tell you too much before the car's presentation, though!
I always liked the RSR and this new one looks really nice. I can't wait to drive it in racing conditions. I never won Le Mans in GT so I hope the new 991 will be the car to achieve this.
Q: What do you think will be the biggest challenge of the 991 factory development program?
DUMAS: We have a new car and new team organization. We have to set all the things quickly to be ready to fight for the win. We will race against experienced teams who know their cars, the championship etc.
On one hand, we have the experience of Porsche AG. On the other hand, we have the experience of Team Manthey. We also know each other, as all the drivers have already raced with Team Manthey and we won together a lot of races, like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. We just have to do the same in WEC.
Q: In addition to your WEC duties with Manthey, do you have any other plans firmed up? Do you expect to be testing the new Porsche LMP1 next year?
DUMAS: Like every year I think I will race in VLN and 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where I want to win again. I am sure there will be some other races. Which ones, that is the question.
I hope to make some races in the U.S., like in the past years. I always enjoyed racing with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and you know that, first I really love to be in the U.S., so Petit Le Mans is one of my goals. So we will see... Why not also race at the Rolex 24, a race I also want to win after Le Mans, Spa and Nürburgring?
Regarding the LMP1, we will see. But for sure I can't wait to see the new car. Porsche means so much to me that driving this new prototype, for the return of the brand in the top category, and after the success of the RS Spyder... it would be a dream come true"
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa
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