Manthey to contest IMSA's Michelin Endurance Cup in 2026

Perennial Porsche GT3 challenger Manthey has announced it will enter the five-race IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for the first time, fielding two Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.

Manthey will enter its famous ‘Grello’ Porsche, the No. 911, in the GTD PRO category, while the No. 912 Porsche will compete in GTD, with 1st Phorm as its primary sponsor and reigning Le Mans 24 Hours LMGT3 class winner Ryan Hardwick as its first announced driver.

“I am thrilled to be returning to IMSA with Manthey in 2026,” said Hardwick, who’d previously won the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Twelve Hours of Sebring at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R for Wright Motorsports.

“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. Bringing the legendary 1st Phorm blue Porsche back to the series is also very special. I have already celebrated victories in Daytona and Sebring in a Porsche, and I know our North American fans are looking forward to seeing the car back on the track.”

Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, and Richard Lietz currently lead the WEC LMGT3 Endurance Trophy standings for Manthey 1st Phorm entering the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain in November. A second consecutive LMGT3 crown for Manthey would complete a very successful 2025 season for the German outfit, adding to its 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series title, and most recently, Ayhancan Güven’s 2025 DTM Championship.

Manthey has made multiple one-off appearances at the Daytona 24 Hours, as recently as 2018, when it entered a 991-generation Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD class. They’ll join Porsche Penske Motorsport and AO Racing as confirmed representatives of Porsche in next season’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with the full 2026 entry list expected to be announced later today.

A full livery reveal, and the remaining drivers for Manthey’s IMSA program will be announced later, along with the remainder of their 2026 racing efforts. 

RACER understands these activities will include another two-car, full-season effort in the WEC’s LMGT3 class, which would keep Porsche engaged in the world championship – at least at the GT level – following the announcement of Porsche Penske Motorsport’s withdrawal from Hypercar after the 2025 season.

“We are very proud to be competing in the IMSA in 2026 together with Ryan, Manthey, 1st Phorm and the Grello,” said Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH. “Entering the American market has been a long-held dream of ours, as we have been following the series for many years, and the US market is also very important for our road car products.

“Entering our two Porsche in the endurance races will also provide an excellent opportunity to engage with Porsche dealers, Manthey customers, and enthusiasts. Building on our experience of competing at the Nürburgring and in the DTM and WEC since 2023 and 2024 respectively, IMSA is the next logical step for us. I am looking forward to this new challenge for our team, especially the season opener in Daytona.”

Patrick Arkenau, Manthey’s Director of Racing, added: “While Manthey is not entirely new to the series – having provided extensive engineering support for various teams in the GT and prototype classes in recent years – this will be our first time competing under our own name, and we are looking forward to the challenge.

“In particular, we have unfinished business at Daytona: we competed there in 1999, 2017 and 2018, but were never able to complete the race. The 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans are also on our ‘wish list’. Our clear goal is to compete for victories in both the GTD PRO and GTD classes right from the start.

“IMSA will of course be a different kind of racing to which we will have to adapt, but we see this as an exciting challenge. We can’t wait to bring the Grello and the number 912 to the track in America from 2026.”

Preparation for Manthey’s IMSA Endurance Cup campaign will begin during the IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona International Speedway on November 15-16, ahead of the 2026 Daytona 24 Hours on January 21-25.