Proton Competition left Spa-Francorchamps with fewer rewards than its performance deserved, but the Ford Mustang squad nevertheless emerged from the second round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with plenty of reasons for optimism.
After opening the season with a double points finish at Imola, the team arrived in Belgium hoping to build momentum in the fiercely competitive LMGT3 category. Throughout the weekend, Proton Competition demonstrated strong pace, secured impressive qualifying positions and spent significant periods of the race fighting at the front of the field.
However, mistakes, penalties and unfortunate circumstances ultimately denied both Mustang entries the chance to challenge for victory. Despite the disappointing final result, the team’s competitiveness offered clear evidence that it possesses the tools required to fight for honours as the season progresses.
Strong Qualifying performance sets the tone for 2026 WEC weekend in Spa
Proton Competition made an encouraging start to the Spa weekend and quickly established itself among the leading LMGT3 contenders. Stefano Gattuso and Eric Powell comfortably advanced through the opening phase of qualifying before Ben Tuck and Giammarco Levorato delivered strong performances in the Hyperpole shootout.
Tuck secured third place on the grid for the #77 Ford Mustang, while Levorato claimed fifth in the sister #88 entry. Those results placed both cars firmly in contention heading into the six-hour race and reinforced the growing confidence within the team.
With track position proving crucial around the demanding Spa circuit, Proton appeared well placed to challenge for a podium finish and potentially even victory.
Powell charges into the lead
The #77 crew wasted little time making its intentions clear when the race got underway. Starting near the front, Eric Powell immediately attacked and overtook Ian James on the opening lap to move into second position. He then set off in pursuit of race leader Tom Van Rompuy as the leading pair began to edge away from the chasing pack.
Powell’s pressure eventually forced an opportunity. After securing a strong exit from the Bus-Stop Chicane, the American produced a bold move and swept into the lead on the run through Eau Rouge.
For a brief period, Proton Competition looked firmly in control of the race. However, the momentum quickly disappeared when Powell made a mistake at Stavelot and became stranded in the gravel trap.
Although he managed to rejoin the race, the delay severely compromised the #77 car’s prospects. Additional time lost in the pit lane further compounded the setback, leaving Powell, Tuck and Sebastian Priaulx with little opportunity to recover.
Instead, the trio used the remainder of the event to gather valuable data and experience before eventually finishing a disappointing 16th.
Powell positive despite 2026 WEC Spa disappointment
Reflecting on the incident and the lessons learned, Powell remained positive despite the outcome.
“Obviously, it was heartbreaking to finish in the position that we did, but there were still a lot of positives to take away from Spa,” Powell reflectedwhile speaking to FIAWEC. “I made a small mistake that had big consequences, but I finally feel I’ve figured out how to drive this Mustang to the best of its potential, especially on these tyres. The pace was really strong and the car felt so good.
“The whole team worked very hard and I wanted to repay everybody with a good result, so to make the mistake made me feel bad for them all, but I learned a lot for sure, it’s still only my second race and I will come back stronger.”
Gattuso impresses as #88 challenges at the front
While the #77 entry endured a frustrating afternoon, the sister #88 Mustang continued to deliver a strong challenge near the front of the field.
Stefano Gattuso adopted an aggressive approach during the opening stages and quickly gained positions. The Italian overtook both François Hériau and Ian James during the first hour, demonstrating impressive speed and racecraft in front of the large Spa crowd.
His attacking display did not go unnoticed. Fans voted Gattuso as the recipient of the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, recognising his speed and eye-catching overtaking moves throughout the race.
In addition, sharp pit work from the Proton Competition crew enabled the #88 Mustang to leapfrog the #78 Lexus and move into the race lead.
The combination of strong driving and efficient strategy placed Proton firmly in contention for a breakthrough result.
Penalties derail promising podium bid
As the race entered its middle stages, Giammarco Levorato maintained the momentum and kept the #88 Mustang among the leading contenders. At the halfway point of the six-hour contest, the car occupied second position and looked well placed to challenge for victory. However, the race soon began to unravel.
A pair of drive-through penalties for track limits infringements significantly damaged the crew’s chances. The penalties dropped the Mustang down the order and forced the team into recovery mode during the closing hours.
Despite determined efforts from Logan Sargeant during the final stint, the lost track position proved impossible to recover. Consequently, the #88 crew crossed the finish line in 12th place, narrowly outside the points-paying positions.
The result represented a frustrating conclusion to a race that had promised so much earlier in the day.
Gattuso finds encouragement in 2026 WEC progress by Proton Competition despite disappointment at Spa
Although the final standings failed to reflect Proton Competition’s pace, Gattuso highlighted several positive developments that could prove important over the remainder of the season.
The Italian praised the performance of the Mustang’s latest evolution package and expressed confidence in the team’s future prospects.
“We were unlucky with what happened, but we have a lot of positives to take into the rest of the year,” Gattuso remarked. “The new ‘Evo’ package is so good – I really felt it during the race – and to win the Goodyear Wingfoot Award meant a lot. I want to take a moment to thank all the fans who voted for me.
“It was the second event in a row where I was nominated for the award, so it really felt special to stand on the podium at the end and be presented with it. Hopefully, the whole team can soon be standing on the podium with me as race-winners!”
His comments reflected the mood within the team following the race. While disappointment remained over the missed opportunity, there was also a growing belief that Proton Competition possesses the pace required to challenge consistently at the front of the LMGT3 field.
Focus turns to Le Mans
Despite leaving Belgium without the results it had targeted, Proton Competition can take considerable encouragement from its performance at Spa-Francorchamps.
Both Ford Mustangs displayed genuine front-running speed throughout the weekend. The team qualified strongly, led the race and consistently challenged the category’s leading contenders. While mistakes and penalties ultimately prevented a stronger finish, the underlying pace remained undeniable.
Importantly, the Spa performance suggested that Proton Competition continues to make significant progress with the Ford Mustang programme. The latest upgrades appear to have strengthened the car’s competitiveness, while the drivers gained valuable experience in race-winning situations.
Attention now shifts to the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 10-14 June, the most prestigious race on the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar. The French endurance classic presents a fresh opportunity for Proton Competition to convert its evident speed into a headline result.
If the team can combine its pace with flawless execution, Spa may ultimately be remembered as the weekend that demonstrated just how competitive Proton Competition can become in the 2026 campaign.
