Despite Porsche's struggles in 2025, Proton Competition is counting on Le Mans to turn things around

Winning at Le Mans with a Porsche is a feeling that Neel Jani has already experienced. In 2016, thanks to the retirement of the Toyota No. 5 at the start of the last lap, the Swiss driver inherits his first, and so far only, victory in La Sarthe. Having returned to Hypercar last year, he will be defending the Proton Competition colors for the second consecutive year.

In 2025, four Porsche 963s will be at the start of the 24H of Le MansProton is entering the only private model, which does not prevent the drivers from comparing themselves to the factory team. "Our reference is Penske, assures Jani. If we beat them, it's because we've maximized our potential. That's how we think.".

However, the status of a private team comes with certain constraints. "For a team like us, which doesn't do trials, we have to adapt very quickly, explains the Swiss. I think that's where we struggled this year: adaptation.".

His teammate Nico Pino, a Hypercar rookie, highlights the importance of the test day this Sunday. "Since it's a semi-road circuit, it's going to be a bit tricky at the beginning, there will be dust everywhere, notes the Chilean. But any data we can acquire once the track is clean will be crucial, especially for qualifying.".

Getting the Porsche 963 Back on Track

After the coronation of the Porsche n°6 in WEC Last year, the German manufacturer experienced a sudden drop in performance in 2025. "We were surprised to see how difficult this season is for all the Porsches, admits Jani. I don't know if it's because of our weight, if it has changed the behavior of the car.", he asks himself, aware that the BoP will be crucial once again. "There are so many variables that come into play in WEC.", supports Pino.

In this quagmire, the Swiss highlights Proton's progress. I think we have improved compared to last year, but it is not visible because the Porsche is slow this year."Despite these difficulties, Le Mans remains a unique race, which gives reasons for optimism, according to Pino. "At least we have good top speed and there are long straights here, he appreciates. I think we can be better than in other races.".

Proton has yet to score a single point in the WEC this season: that is Neel Jani's objective in La Sarthe. "I hope we can at least fight for the top 10.". Even if it means invoking purely speculative elements. "Last year we were good at Spa, so we arrived at Le Mans with high hopes., he recalls. This year we were nowhere to be seen in Spa, so who knows?.

Comments collected by Michaël Duforest, in Le Mans.

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