The German marque, Porsche, has selected Nurburgring-based Manthey, a team it partly owns, to run a pair of the latest 992-shape 911 GT3 R contenders introduced this year. In the upcoming World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, the 911 GT3 R cars will be the only ones representing Porsche on the grid, as each marque in the class that succeeds GTE Am is allowed only two entries. Porsche, being involved in the Hypercar category, automatically gets to choose the team or teams to run its cars.
Manthey is making a return to the WEC after previously serving as Porsche’s factory team in the GTE Pro ranks from 2013 until the last season when the class was phased out. During their partnership, Manthey achieved remarkable success, including winning the drivers’ titles in 2015 and 2018/19 with Richard Lietz, Kevin Estre, and Michael Christensen, as well as taking the manufacturers’ crown in both instances. They also triumphed three times in GTE Pro at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours in 2013, 2018, and 2022.
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The name under which the team will race and the line-ups for the 911 GT3 R cars will be announced at a later date, adding to the anticipation surrounding this exciting collaboration.
Porsche Motorsport boss, Thomas Laudenbach, mentioned that the decision to choose Manthey wasn’t easy, but the team stood out for several reasons. As a subsidiary, Manthey’s intimate knowledge of the Porsche 911 GT3 R from DTM races and major endurance classics played a crucial role in their selection. Furthermore, the team’s extensive experience with the special characteristics of the WEC, acquired through years of factory racing with the Porsche 911 RSR, made them a perfect fit for the upcoming season. Porsche’s successful history with Manthey was also an essential factor in sealing the deal.
Manthey’s managing director, Nicolas Raeder, expressed pride in the team’s return to the WEC. The team, established by Olaf Manthey in 1996, merged with Raeder Motorsport in 2013, and Porsche acquired a 51% stake in the new group at the end of that year.
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In the LMGT3 class, there will be room for only one factory contractee per car, as GTE Am rules demand at least one bronze-rated driver and a second non-platinum/gold, typically a silver-rated driver.
Porsche’s announcement of Manthey as its partner team for the 911 GT3 R campaign assumes that the WEC organizers, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the FIA, have approved the involvement of Manthey without violating the regulations.
Porsche is the third manufacturer to announce a partner team for LMGT3 next year. Ford revealed that Proton Competition will run two of its new Mustang GT3s if awarded entries, while Chevrolet will be represented by the British TF Sport squad with its forthcoming Corvette Z06 GT3-R.
The anticipation is building as the WEC 2024 season approaches, with fans eagerly waiting to see Porsche and Manthey in action on the track, vying for victory in the highly competitive racing series.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
