A week before the FIA World Endurance Championship’s return from break for the 6 Hours of the Nürburgring in which he will be driving the Porsche Team 919 Hybrid, Romain Dumas will take part in the FIA R-GT Cup for the third time with his own team. For this entry in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the RD Rallye Team has reserved a surprise for their boss : the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0l will carry a unique livery highlighting the cars that helped shape the French driver’s career.
The most important Porsche liveries in Romain Dumas’ career
Although he has often raced on German circuits, this will be the first time that Romain Dumas takes on a rally in this country. It’s a special place for the Alès, France native, who has raced for the Porsche marque as an official driver since 2003. This is why – and after making his start in racing 20 years ago in Formula Renault Campus (1995) – his team has chosen to dedicate a special livery for this 2015 edition of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland.
The secret livery has so far been well kept and today Romain Dumas will discover the new look of his Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0l in the media. The paint-scheme highlights the most important Porsches of his career. Therefore, the front bumper is a throwback to his first win at the 24 Hours of Spa (2003) and the Freisinger Motorsport days. The hood recalls the tradition Team Manthey colors, in which Romain won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring four times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011). The roof harkens back to his second victory at the 24 Hours of Spa, with BMS (2010). He was the first driver to win at Le Mans and Spa in the same year since Luigi Chinetti in 1949.
The left side of the car is dedicated to the Porsche RS Spyder with the rear fender reflecting the Penske era, with a historic overall victory at Mid-Ohio (2006), an overall win at the 12 Hours of Sebring (2008) and two championship titles in the American Le Mans Series (2007, 2008). The left door carries the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing colors that Romain raced to the final overall win for the RS Spyder, at Mosport (2010). On the right side, the door refers to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, honoring the Open class win (2012). The rear of the car is inspired by the 911 RSR with which Romain won the LM GTE-Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2013).
After Rallye Monte-Carlo, with a second place finish in R-GT, and Rallye d’Ypres, where he was forced to retire due to mechanical issues while dominating his class and running fourth overall, Romain Dumas will take on the Rally ADAC Rallye Deutschland for the first time. The goal remains the same : reach the finish and fight for the class victory in R-GT with the RD Limited developed Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0l.