Romain Dumas has described his eponymous RD Limited team’s debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as highly significant, while acknowledging that the squad’s immediate plans remain unclear as it continues to pursue a berth in the European Le Mans Series.
The two-time winner of this endurance classic returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe behind the wheel for RD for the first time since parting ways with Glickenhaus in 2023, sharing the No. 48 Oreca 07 Gibson in LMP2 Pro-Am with Tristian Vautier and Fred Poordad.
This appearance follows RD Limited being selected to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s premier race, following success in the Asian Le Mans Series, though the outfit did not secure an automatic invitation for winning that series’ LMP2 title.
“For us, securing this entry was incredibly important,” Dumas told Sportscar365. “We campaigned hard for it, and we’re all very happy and proud to be here. We were the only new squad besides Genesis, and you can’t compare our personnel to theirs.”
“I think a lot of people in France are glad to see us here as well. They appreciate this kind of small, homegrown French team, and I can tell you that many are following our progress.”
“Undoubtedly, my past at Le Mans opened the door, but I believe we earned it through what we achieved in Asia. It’s important to show that a team focused solely on the Asian Le Mans Series can also have the opportunity to compete at Le Mans.”
“From the first practice session, it was clear that Le Mans is not like Asia; we were far from optimal given it was our initial laps on the track. We must close a gap of five or six years of experience compared with the others. It’s a completely different situation.”
“Le Mans is a monumental leap—more than just a step. I’ve put in immense work over the past four months, beyond what you can imagine. Still, it’s very rewarding to witness the team’s growth.”
Dumas was not part of the RD line-up for their Asia campaigns, with Vautier and Poordad sharing driving duties alongside James Allen, but he explained that stepping in as an owner-driver in this instance was an easy choice.
“For this year, it felt right for everyone that I would race for my own team,” he said. “People connect with that kind of story, just like Henri Pescarolo did. Not many drivers have raced for their own Le Mans outfit, and spectators notice that.”
“Having this kind of narrative also helped us to be here. Yet I still enjoy driving, and it’s even more special as a Frenchman competing at Le Mans.”
Looking ahead, Dumas admitted he cannot be sure where RD will be able to campaign its Oreca outside Asia, as the Alès, France-based outfit continues to balance its rallying and historic programs with its LMP2 activities.
He has previously stated that ELMS participation would be the team’s preferred route, but it was ruled out of this year’s grid due to space limitations.
“The goal is to return to Asian Le Mans, but beyond that, who knows?” said Dumas.
“We are in LMP2, which means our involvement depends on an invitation. We will attempt to race in any championship that welcomes us.”
“We are still active in several other categories. We will be at the Dakar, with one or two Ford Raptors expected, and I anticipate that I will drive there.”
“Beyond that, we must wait to see what unfolds in Asia, and then the ELMS, which would be a dream. It’s the same story as always.”
Uncertainty Surrounds Dumas’ Return to Le Mans Driving
RD’s No. 48 entry finished eighth in the LMP2 Pro-Am class, five laps behind the winner, after losing nearly two laps at night due to a number-panel issue and then slipping further due to a battery problem and a late puncture.
Dumas noted that the team was “quite close” to its rivals’ pace during Vautier’s stint, but emphasized that the primary objective was simply to finish the race.
“The first target was to finish,” said Dumas. “In the end, it was a completely different beast from what we’re used to. There’s no practice here. We found a reasonable setup during the warmup, but it still wasn’t enough.”
“And for me, I needed some time to shed the rust. By the end, my pace wasn’t too bad. I’m happy about that, but that wasn’t the most important thing.”
“As a driver, you want to perform, but I was genuinely stressed about avoiding mistakes—more so than when I was a factory driver!”
Last month’s race marked Dumas’ 24th Le Mans appearance, placing him sixth on the all-time list, nine starts behind all-time leader Henri Pescarolo.
Still, the 48-year-old said that staying long enough to challenge Pescarolo’s mark—requiring continued racing into his 50s—was “not my target at all” and he wouldn’t commit when asked about a 25th Le Mans start.
“I have raced 24 times, I am 48 years old, the car number is 48… I’m not sure,” he said.
“I’ll take some time to think this summer. It was tough on the family that I wasn’t home for three months so we could prepare everything. We’ll see.”
