Romain Dumas at the Monte-Carlo Rally with his Porsche

Only a few days following his first participation in the Dakar Rally with the Ecurie du Cœur, Romain Dumas will be at the start of the Rallye MonteCarlo, first round of the 2015 World Rally Championship, and first event in the new FIA RGT Cup. With co-driver Denis Giraudet, Romain will be behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0l developed by RD Limited and entered under his own team, the Romain Dumas Rallye Team.

“ Finally the Monte-Carlo… “ After two class victories  in the Rallye de France-Alsace, where he signed the best result for an RGT entry in a world rally event, and a top five overall finish in the Corsica Rally, Romain Dumas will be making his third appearance in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0l developed at the Pôle Mécanique in Alès, France. Although the team has gained experience, the Rallye Monte-Carlo represents a challenge on another level. “ It’s one of the most prestigious events, but also one of the most difficult. “

I feel like my firesuit will be transforming into adventurer’s clothes

Romain Dumas

Romain confirms. “ I can’t imagine a more complicated rally, with numerous types of conditions and road surfaces, and therefore different driving styles needed. I’ve never competed in a rally in the snow, and I think that with the Porsche it will be a true challenge. But that’s what makes the Monte-Carlo so intriguing. My father did it when I was a child, and Porsche has a nice history here with four wins. All of this combines to make me very happy to finally be in the Monte-Carlo. It’s been several years that we’ve been working on this project. This time, we are here. “

From the desert and dunes of South America to the snow of Monte-Carlo !  In order to prepare for the Rallye Monte-Carlo, Romain Dumas has scheduled several test sessions with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0l. Various sessions have been completed on the roads of Gard and at the Pôle Mécanique. Even more are planned for the coming days. “ We are trying to work in all conditions, whether it’s dry or wet roads. Snow ? It’s a bit of a mystery” admits Romain.

“ I’m expecting to come across traps at every turn ! Experience will be very important and, honestly, I don’t have any at the Monte-Carlo. However, the team, as I, are starting to know the car better, and it has evolved even more since the Corsica Rally. My goals haven’t changed : I want to be at the finish to take in this famous experience and to progress on all levels.. “

It will be a wilde start to 2015 for the marathon man who is Romain Dumas. Ahead of his factory schedule with the Porsche Team in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Alès native will take on the Dakar and the Monte-Carlo back to back. From January 4-17, he will drive a Buggy for Ecurie du Cœur in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. And on the 19th of January, he will be at the recce for Monte-Carlo !  “ I feel like my firesuit will be transforming into adventurer’s clothes “ explains Romain.

“ In one sense, it’s so cool that I will go from the Atacama desert to the Col du Turini in a few days. This radical diversity in events, cars, terrains…it’s an exciting challenge ! Drivers who have driven in all disciplines of racing have had an impact on me, and in some sense I want to imitate them. It’s simply awesome to start the season with the Dakar and the Monte-Carlo ! “

Winner of the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship of 2014, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, Romain Dumas will return as a factory Porsche Team driver in 2015 driving one of the 919 Hybrid entries in the FIA WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours.

Romain Dumas