Christian Ried

Christian Ried (born 24 February 1979) is a German former racing driver and the team principal of Proton Competition. He last competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship, racing for Iron Lynx in the No. 61 Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Career

Ried's father Gerold founded Proton Competition in 1996, the team which Christian has spent most of his career racing for, beginning with the FIA GT Championship in 1999. As of 2021, Christian was team owner, facilitating the team's move to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship alongside WeatherTech Racing in 2021. Ried ran his first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006, driving in the GT2 class for Sebah Automotive Ltd. He returned in 2011, driving for Proton Competition, and scored his first podium in 2014, finishing second in the GTE Am class. Four years later, Ried collected his first victory at the famous race, winning the GTE Am class alongside co-drivers Matt Campbell and Julien Andlauer. Two years later, Ried finished runner-up once again, this time with Riccardo Pera replacing Andlauer in the driver lineup. That same year, Ried won the European Le Mans Series championship in the GTE class on countback, after ending level on points with Kessel Racing.

In 2017 and 2018, Ried won the Porsche Cup, an award handed out to a non-factory driver who has most successfully piloted a Porsche over the course of the season.

Ried is the only driver to have competed in every race of the first decade of the FIA World Endurance Championship, spanning from 2012 to 2022. Following the 2023 season, after 85 consecutive races and 13 class victories in the championship, Ried announced his retirement from professional racing, electing to focus on the management of Proton Competition and his children's racing careers. Ultimately, Ried returned to the championship for a one-off drive at Interlagos in 2024, replacing full-season Bronze-ranked driver Giorgio Roda. Due to Proton Competition's transition to Ford machinery in 2024, Ried's unscheduled appearance marked his first WEC start in a non-Porsche entry.

For 2025, Ried would return to racing, doing the first two rounds for Italian team Iron Lynx in their first season as a Mercedes-AMG customer team. He would step back after the 6 Hours of Imola, citing his inability to combine racing activities with his duties as a team principal. Ried was replaced for the remainder of the season by Australian racer Martin Berry, starting from the 6 Hours of Spa.

Personal life

Ried's son Jonas, is currently competing in the European Le Mans Series. His other son Lenny is currently competing in F4 Spanish Championship for Monlau Motorsport.

Racing record

Racing career summary

† As Ried was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score championship points.

Complete FIA GT Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete European Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Intercontinental Le Mans Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results