Manthey 1st Phorm Secures LMGT3 Championships at 2025 8 Hours of Bahrain
Manthey 1st Phorm delivered a remarkable performance at the 2025 8 Hours of Bahrain, rising from 17th on the grid to finish fourth, ultimately clinching both the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships in the LMGT3 category. This victory marks a significant achievement for the German Porsche team, who have demonstrated consistent dominance since the LMGT3 class’s inception last season, including two Le Mans wins.
Drivers Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick, and Riccardo Pera faced a challenging season, especially after a poor start in Qatar. However, their resilience was evident as they amassed points in every race following their two victories at Imola and Le Mans. Post-race, Hardwick expressed the importance of the championship, stating, “This championship, along with winning Le Mans, is definitely the highlight of my driving career and also my life.”
Despite struggling in qualifying, Hardwick’s impressive opening triple stint propelled the team into contention. The crew maintained their position through smart driving and strategic pit stops, successfully fending off challenges from immediate title rivals, including the #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari and the #81 TF Sport Corvette.
Lietz, who executed a critical late-race stint, noted the pressure of the closing laps, particularly after a late Safety Car bunched the field. “I asked for a boring race,” he quipped, reflecting on the heightened tension as rivals with fresh tires made late pushes. “We had to push from the beginning [on the restart], and maybe I pushed the tires a bit too much.”
The championship awarded Lietz his first title in a decade, a notable career revival following his previous success in 2015 with Porsche’s factory GTE Pro team. At the awards ceremony, Hardwick and Pera celebrated their inaugural WEC titles, while Lietz’s experience proved invaluable.
Sebastian Golz, Project Manager for Porsche 911 GT3 R, emphasized the significance of their success, stating, “This success story in the LMGT3 category is hard to beat: two class wins at Le Mans and the championship titles are no small achievement.”
While Manthey excelled, Porsche’s Hypercar effort, operated by Penske and Proton, faced challenges, with none of their 963 cars finishing in the top 10. The contrasting outcomes highlight the competitive nature and varying fortunes within Porsche’s racing framework.
Manthey 1st Phorm’s victory at Bahrain cements their status as front-runners in the LMGT3 category and sets a promising foundation for future endeavors.
