Le Mans – Horst Felbermayr Sr has died

If today Proton Racing – also called Dempsey Proton Racing – is an essential team in the racing landscape,Endurance world, it owes much of it to a man by the name of Horst Felbermayr (Senior). And for good reason, for most of its existence, its entity was even called Team Felbermayr-Proton.

Long used by Porsche like its strong arm on the old continent, the German team was created in 1996 by George Ried, the father of Christian, current boss-driver of the German team. After having its weapons in particular in FIA GT with in particular good old Horst behind the wheel, it makes its first appearance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008. Since then, she has not missed a single edition. Among the teams present at the start this year, few can say the same, with the exception of Corvette Racing and Aston Martin Racing.

The main feat of this team? A victory in 2010 in the GT2 category – under the Team Felbermayr-Proton banner – with a trio of official Porsche drivers combining Marc Lieb with Wolf Henzler and Richard Lietz. A year which also saw him win his second crown in a row in ELMS.

The 911 GT3 RSR from Henzler-Lib-Lietz, winner of the 24 2010 Hours of Le Mans in GT2.

© DPPI / Jean-Michel Le Meur

If the Zuffenhausen firm is now 100% officially present in GTE Pro, it has always kept a very strong link with the German team, which it now uses to train its young hopefuls in GTE Am. With success, since Christian Ried took his first class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 alongside two brand-backed drivers: Julien Andlauer and Matt Campbell.

But again, all this would never have been possible without the initial involvement of Felbermayr Sr who was, as recently as 2015, the head of Wels, Austria-based construction and transportation giant Felbermayr Holding GmbH . Today, the group – chaired by his son Horst Felbermayr Jr – has a total of 26 subsidiaries and 78 sites in 18 European countries.

As a driver, Horst Felbermayr took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times between 2005 and 2011 (an edition during which he was the victim of a violent accident after colliding with a Corvette), including four with his son.

To his family, his loved ones and the entire Proton team, AUTOhebdo sends its most sincere condolences.