Matt Kurzejewski will step up to the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) with Proton Competition in 2026 after spending more than a year away from racing.
The 34-year-old American will compete in the LMGT3 category aboard a Porsche 911 GT3 R. His new programme follows a dominant 2024 Michelin Le Mans Cup campaign, where he won the GT3 championship alongside Alessandro Balzan in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3.
Kurzejewski claimed four victories and three second-place finishes from seven races during that title-winning season. He also secured pole positions at Barcelona and Portimão before winning the championship by 42 points.
Now, he will return to the ACO paddock with a new team, car and championship as he takes the next step in his endurance racing career.
Kurzejewski returns after significant year away
Kurzejewski did not compete during the 2025 season. Instead, he focused on major developments in both his personal life and business interests.
Most significantly, he and his wife welcomed their first child. Meanwhile, his professional responsibilities also occupied much of his time and kept him away from the cockpit for more than a year.
Nevertheless, Kurzejewski now feels ready to return to the paddock and begin his first ELMS campaign.
“I’m very pleased to be back in the paddock. 2025 was a big year personally, my wife and I welcomed our first child, which has been an incredible experience. Professionally, I spent a lot of time focused on the company, so I wasn’t in a race car for over a year.”
Although the break interrupted the momentum from his championship success, it also gave Kurzejewski time to reset before tackling a more competitive category. Consequently, he will begin the new season with renewed motivation and a clear appreciation of the opportunity ahead.
Michelin Le Mans Cup provides valuable foundation
The 2024 Michelin Le Mans Cup gave Kurzejewski his first experience of GT racing in Europe under ACO regulations.
Before that campaign, he had primarily competed in Ferrari Challenge in the United States. That series placed greater emphasis on shorter sprint races, while the Michelin Le Mans Cup introduced him to multi-class traffic, longer contests and more complex pit procedures.
Therefore, the championship played an important role in preparing him for his ELMS step.
“My 2024 season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup was very important for a number of reasons. It was my first experience in GT racing and in a true multi-class endurance environment. Prior to that, I had been racing in Ferrari Challenge in the U.S., which is much more sprint focused.
“One of the biggest takeaways was gaining experience with ACO rules and procedures. The ACO environment, across MLMC, ELMS, and WEC, operates quite differently from IMSA and other U.S. sanctioning bodies. Having that full season of exposure is a major advantage. It helps with understanding race procedures, pit protocols, and overall race management, which ultimately reduces the risk of penalties and allows you to focus more on execution and performance.”
That knowledge should shorten his adjustment period in the ELMS. While the LMGT3 competition will introduce a higher standard and longer races, Kurzejewski already understands many of the procedures that govern an ACO championship.
Moreover, his previous success showed that he can manage traffic, avoid costly mistakes and deliver consistent results across a full season.
Porsche switch creates a fresh technical challenge
Kurzejewski will also change manufacturers after spending four years racing Ferrari machinery.
His Proton programme will mark his first season with the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Consequently, he must adapt from the Ferrari 296 GT3’s mid-rear-engine layout to the Porsche’s distinctive rear-engine configuration.
Although both cars compete under GT3 regulations, their different weight distributions and handling characteristics require contrasting driving techniques.
“I spent four years in the Ferrari and really fell in love with that platform. At the end of the day, they are both race cars, but they have very different characteristics. Historically, I’ve gravitated toward front-engine cars, so both the mid-rear engine Ferrari and rear-engine Porsche require a different driving approach.
“For me, the transition comes down to patience and understanding weight distribution to shorten the learning curve. The Ferrari 296 is designed to be driven precisely within its operating window, right at the limit, but it demands respect. The Porsche, on the other hand, feels like it encourages you to lean on it at and even slightly beyond the limit, which can be very rewarding once you understand it.”
Accordingly, Kurzejewski will focus on understanding how the Porsche behaves as he builds confidence during testing and the opening rounds.
His experience across different machinery should support that process. However, the intense LMGT3 competition will leave little room for error, making efficient adaptation particularly important.
Proton relationship begins to develop
The move to Proton Competition also ends Kurzejewski’s four-year association with Ferrari-linked teams.
He developed strong personal and professional relationships during that period, so he approached the decision carefully. Nevertheless, Proton’s endurance racing experience, established history and competitive driver line-up convinced him to begin a new chapter.
“I spent four years with Ferrari-aligned teams and built strong relationships during that time, so making the move to Proton wasn’t something I took lightly. It meant starting fresh in many ways.
“That said, Proton presented a great opportunity to join a very experienced team with a strong history and a competitive driver lineup. I tend to be more quiet and reserved by nature, so there’s an adjustment that comes with integrating into a new environment, but I’m gaining traction quickly. The team has been very welcoming, and there’s a strong foundation here to build something successful.”
Kurzejewski must now establish effective relationships with his new engineers, mechanics and teammates. However, Proton’s welcoming approach has already helped him settle into the organisation.
Furthermore, his methodical personality should suit the demands of endurance racing, where communication and long-term development often prove as important as outright pace.
Barcelona offers familiar start to ELMS career
The 4 Hours of Barcelona will launch Kurzejewski’s ELMS campaign at a circuit where he enjoyed considerable success in 2024.
He claimed Michelin Le Mans Cup pole and victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during his championship-winning season. Therefore, the venue provides a positive and familiar setting for his first race with Proton.
Kurzejewski particularly enjoys the technical sequence through Repsol, Seat, Würth and Campsa, which rewards both precision and commitment.
“I’m very excited to return to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It’s a great venue and a perfect place to open the season. My favourite sequence is Repsol through Seat, Wurth, and into Campsa. It’s a technical section that really rewards commitment and precision, and when you get it right, it’s very satisfying.”
Although his previous experience should help, he will face the circuit in different machinery and within a more competitive field. As a result, Barcelona will provide an early measure of his adaptation to both the Porsche and the ELMS.
Previous circuit knowledge shortens learning curve
Kurzejewski has already raced at most of the venues on the 2026 calendar, giving him another advantage ahead of his rookie ELMS season.
Rather than learning unfamiliar layouts at every round, he can concentrate on refining his driving and understanding the Porsche. However, Silverstone will provide a completely new experience when the championship visits the historic British circuit.
“Any seat time is valuable, especially when returning to circuits. Having prior experience at most of the tracks on the 2026 ELMS calendar definitely helps shorten the learning curve and allows you to focus more on fine-tuning performance rather than starting from scratch.
“I’m very excited about racing at Silverstone for the first time this year. It’s one of the most historic circuits in motorsport, with a lot of character and very high-speed sections that really reward commitment and confidence. It’s a track that challenges both the driver and the car, so I’m looking forward to that opportunity.
“That said, I’m probably most excited to return to Imola. It’s one of my favourite circuits. It has a great flow, a lot of technical sections, and a strong sense of history. It’s a place where you really feel connected to the track, and it’s always rewarding to drive there.”
Silverstone’s high-speed layout should test Kurzejewski’s confidence in the Porsche, while Imola offers a return to one of his preferred circuits.
Together, the varied venues will demand adaptability from both driver and team throughout the campaign.
Consistency shapes LMGT3 approach
Kurzejewski expects the LMGT3 category to feature strong teams and highly competitive driver combinations.
Therefore, he plans to rely on the disciplined approach that helped him win the Michelin Le Mans Cup title. Rather than chasing unnecessary risks, he wants Proton to execute clean races, minimise errors and capitalise when opportunities emerge.
“The LMGT3 class is extremely competitive; there are a lot of strong teams and driver lineups, so execution is everything.
“My approach to endurance racing has always been to focus on running our own race. Stay disciplined, minimize mistakes, execute consistently, and avoid unnecessary risks. If you can do that over the course of a race, opportunities tend to come to you. That mindset has contributed to my success, and it’s what I’ll carry into this season.”
That strategy produced seven top-two finishes from seven starts during his 2024 title campaign. However, the longer ELMS races will place even greater emphasis on pit-stop execution, driver changes and traffic management.
Consequently, Proton must combine pace with reliability and discipline if it wants to challenge the established LMGT3 contenders.
Business and family provide life away from racing
Outside the cockpit, Kurzejewski remains heavily involved in the operation and development of his company.
He applies many of the same principles to business that he uses in motorsport, particularly preparation, consistency and high-level execution. Nevertheless, he also values the time he spends with his family and friends, especially after becoming a father.
“Outside of racing, I’m heavily involved in the operations and growth of my company. I approach business very similarly to racing, success comes from executing at a high level across every part of the operation.
“My friends and family would probably say I’m very driven when it comes to work. At the same time, I make it a priority to stay active and spend time with the people closest to me. Lately, a big part of that has been adjusting to life as a new dad.
“In my free time, we spend a lot of time on Keuka Lake during the summer and skiing in the winter. I really value that balance, being able to step away, reset, and enjoy time with family and close friends.”
After balancing those responsibilities during his year away, Kurzejewski now returns to racing with a fresh challenge.
His previous championship success, knowledge of ACO competition and growing relationship with Proton provide a strong foundation. However, adapting to the Porsche and competing against an accomplished LMGT3 field will determine how quickly he can establish himself in the ELMS.
