New Chapter in Endurance Opens for Romain Dumas
Former World Champion Brings His Team to Endurance Racing
As the multiple winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2016 FIA World Endurance Driver’s Champion Romain Dumas needs no introduction.
As a factory driver for Porsche, the 46-year-old Frenchman from Ales has won almost every accolade in endurance. In 2008 Dumas established RD Limited, a team to challenge in the worlds of rallying, hill climb and off-road, quickly becoming a force in all three disciplines, with winners’ trophies and championship titles quickly following.
Now Romain Dumas is beginning a new project to take RD Limited into the world of endurance racing and emulate his success as a driver in his new role of Team Principal. The first step is a single car entry in the LMP2 category of the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series, with the ultimate goal of competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
We caught up with Romain Dumas with less than one month to go to the opening race of the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series in Sepang and Saturday 7th December.
Q1. The LMP2 project is a new chapter for RD Limited after having been involved in rallying, off-road and hill climb. As a winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both LMGTE and LMP1 and an FIA World Champion this project must be very close to your heart?
Romain Dumas: “Obviously, it’s a special program for me and Brice (Gaillardon), the Technical Director. It was in our mind since a couple of years now, but we wanted to make it at the right time.
“Brice has a strong experience of sportscars, in Hypercar, LMP1 and LMP2. Considering my career in endurance racing, and our philosophy, we must do it properly. We are working in factory programs and very high-level teams. This is our way to make it.
“I like all kinds of racing, but of course you know how much I love endurance and how important it is for me.”
Q2. What is the ultimate goal for the LMP2 project?
RD: “The first season is never easy, so we are humble, but we are also ambitious. We will go step by step. The Asian Le Mans Series is perfect to start in terms of timing. We want to do more but let’s seen.
“First, we have to do well in this series, in the LMP2 class which is probably the most competitive one. Same car, same engine, same tyres, there is no excuse.”
Q3. You’ve already announced the first two drivers in this year’s Asian Le Mans Series, Tristan Vautier and Fred Poordad. Tell us a little more about these two drivers and when can we expect to hear the name of their teammate in Sepang?
RD: “Fred is a good bronze driver with already experience LMP2. That was one of our wishes. He is also a guy who likes to work, which is nice for a gentleman driver. This is the kind of approach we like. I am convinced in can do even better of what he has shown yet.
“Tristan is a strong professional driver, with lot of experience. We know his pace. He also knows Fred, so we know the combination of them will work well.
“The third driver will be announced soon.”
Q4. As a driver who still keeps busy behind the wheel, especially at the Goodwood Revival, at Pikes Peak and at Bathurst, is it tempting to get behind the wheel of the LMP2 and how do you separate your role of Team Principal and Race Driver?
RD: “I made the two first shakedown of our new car. I like the ORECA 07, it’s a really nice car and I had some great time with it, especially in IMSA with CORE Autosport. But in this program, my first focus is my role of Team Principal. I want to have time for the drivers and the crew, to bring my experience.”
Q5. The competition in the Asian Le Mans Series is very strong this season. What would be a good result for RD Limited in the two races at Sepang?
RD: “Honestly, I am not a big fan of prognostic. I prefer to keep it for me, or let’s say inside the team.
“My philosophy has always been the same in endurance: first, you have to make no mistakes and finish the race. If you do your own job and follow the plan, you will get good results.”
