Romain Dumas
French endurance legend with multiple Le Mans and Pikes Peak wins.
Romain Dumas (born 14 December 1977) is a French racing driver in endurance racing, GT and sport-prototype. He has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Spa, the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the 12 Hours of Sebring. He has been one of Porsche's factory drivers since 2004. He's also been contracted to Audi from 2009 to 2012, Volkswagen from 2017 to 2019, and Ford Performance since 2022, setting records in mostly electric prototypes at Pikes Peak and other places.
- Nationality
- French
- Primary Manufacturer Affiliation
- Porsche Works Driver (since 2004)
- Racing Discipline
- Endurance / GT / Sport-prototype / Hill Climb
- Le Mans Status
- Multiple Winner (LMP1, LMP2) and Frequent Starter (2001–2019, 2021–2023)
- Notable Record
- Pikes Peak Overall Wins (5), Nürburgring EV Lap Record, Land Vehicle Altitude Re
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Born in Alès, Dumas started karting in 1992, in 1996 he competed in the French Formula Renault Championship. In 1998, he joined the French Formula 3 Championship. Dumas tested a Formula 3000 car for Oreca in 1999, a Renault F1 in 2002, and in 2004 a Conquest Racing Champ Car, but he did not proceed to race in these formulas. Two years after his F3000 test, though, he competed in Euro Formula 3000, in 2001 and 2002. From 2001 to 2019 and again from 2021 to 2023, Dumas has participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, missing only the 2020 edition. From 2002 to 2013 he has competed in American Le Mans Series. He was a Porsche factory driver for Penske Racing, and also driven in the FIA GT Championship. In 2007, Dumas won first overall in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, 1st American Le Mans Series (LMP2 Class — Penske Porsche RS Spyder with eight wins, four pole positions), 3rd Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1 Class — Pescarolo Sport), 5th 1000 km Valencia LMS (LMP1 Class — Pescarolo Sport), four races VLN championship with Manthey Racing (two wins, one pole position), 18th Daytona 24H (12th DP). Dumas started 2008 with the P2 class and overall win at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring in the Penske Porsche RS Spyder. Dumas was invited to test an Indycar for Team Penske at the end of the 2008 season, at Sonoma Raceway (named Infineon Raceway at the time). The Penske Porsche RS Spyder program ended after 2008, and Dumas and Timo Bernhard raced on loan to the Audi Sport Team Joest, finishing 17 overall and 13 in class in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans. Dumas, together with Timo Bernhard and Mike Rockenfeller won the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Audi R15 TDI. He also won the 2010 and 2011 24 Hours of Spa in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Dumas also won with partner Klaus Graf in the CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder at the ALMS event at Mosport. Dumas developed and drove the Porsche 919 Hybrid in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2014. In 2014, Dumas won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a Norma M20 'RD Limited' prototype developed specifically for the event. In 2015, Dumas raced a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car in the RGT class of the WRC Monte Carlo Rally, placing second behind class winner François Delecour. Later he claimed a class win at the Rallye Deutschland. Dumas continued as a Porsche LMP1 works driver for the 2016 FIA WEC season. Dumas and teammates Neel Jani and Marc Lieb achieved vic
In Their Own Story
The year 2019 marked a pivotal shift as Dumas focused on electric speed records. Driving the Volkswagen ID R, he shattered the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for an electric vehicle with a time of 6:05.336. Just weeks later at Goodwood Festival of Speed, he beat Nick Heidfeld's McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car, completing the hill climb in 0:39.90. In September, he and the I.D. R conquered the Tianmen Mountain Big Gate Road, covering 10,906 metres in 07:38.585 to set a new benchmark. Returning to Pikes Peak in 2024, Dumas drove the Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck to his fifth overall victory, posting an 8:53.563 time. His versatility extended to altitude records in December 2023, when he piloted a Porsche 911 to 6,734 metres on the Ojos del Salado volcano, setting the world record for land vehicle altitude.
Reader's Guide
Romain Dumas is a versatile French driver with wins at Le Mans, Spa, Nürburgring, and Sebring. He has multiple Pikes Peak victories (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024) and holds records in electric vehicles. He has been a Porsche factory driver since 2004 and has also driven for Audi, Volkswagen, and Ford.
Did You Know?
- Dumas won the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Audi R15 TDI.
- He won the 24 Hours of Spa in both 2010 and 2011.
- Dumas set the electric vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Romain Dumas?
Romain Dumas is a celebrated French racing driver born in 1977 who excels across endurance and hill climb disciplines. He has served as a Porsche factory driver since 2004, establishing himself as a key figure in modern motorsport.
What is Romain Dumas's record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
He holds a remarkable streak as a continuous starter at the event, competing in every edition from 2001 through 2023. This consistency underscores his longevity and dedication to endurance racing's premier stage.
Which car manufacturers has Romain Dumas worked with?
While primarily linked to Porsche, he has also competed for Audi, Volkswagen, and Ford Performance throughout his career. His ability to drive effectively for multiple teams highlights his adaptability as a professional racer.
What other major races has Romain Dumas won?
In addition to Le Mans victories, he claimed wins at the 24 Hours of Spa, Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the 12 Hours of Sebring. These triumphs demonstrate his mastery over various endurance circuits globally.
Why is Romain Dumas known for electric vehicle records?
He gained fame beyond circuit racing by securing five overall wins at Pikes Peak and setting lap records with electric prototypes on the Nürburgring. This showcases a unique combination of traditional driving skill and innovation in electrification.
More in Records & Statistics
Elsewhere in the 24 Hours of Le Mans universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record