Manthey Racing to Debut in IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with Porsche 911 GT3 Rs
Manthey Racing, a formidable contender in GT racing, has confirmed its entry into the 2026 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, marking its first comprehensive campaign in North America. The team will field two Porsche 911 GT3 Rs, including the iconic No. 911 ‘Grello’ in the GTD PRO category and the No. 912 in the GTD class, the latter supported by primary sponsor 1st Phorm.
Ryan Hardwick, the reigning LMGT3 class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has been announced as the lead driver for the No. 912. Hardwick expressed his enthusiasm for returning to IMSA, stating, “Having started my racing career in IMSA, I am very excited to now be part of Manthey’s driver line-up for their first season racing in North America.”
Manthey’s entry into the IMSA series comes on the heels of a successful 2025 campaign, where Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, and Richard Lietz led the WEC LMGT3 Endurance Trophy standings. The team is poised for a strong season, already clinching the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series title and the 2025 DTM Championship.
Historically, Manthey has participated in the Daytona 24 Hours, most recently in 2018. The upcoming IMSA season will also see the team face competition from Porsche Penske Motorsport and AO Racing, with the complete entry list expected to be released shortly.
Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH, remarked, “Entering the American market has been a long-held dream of ours, as the US market is also very important for our road car products.” He reiterated the importance of engaging with Porsche dealers and fans.
Patrick Arkenau, Director of Racing at Manthey, noted, “This will be our first time competing under our own name… Our clear goal is to compete for victories in both the GTD PRO and GTD classes right from the start.”
Preparation for the IMSA Endurance Cup will commence at the IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona International Speedway on November 15-16, ahead of the prestigious Daytona 24 Hours, scheduled for January 21-25, 2026.
