Manthey announces IMSA Endurance Cup drivers

Manthey has announced the drivers for its inaugural IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup campaign, where the German superteam has committed to running two brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 Rs, one each in GTD PRO and GTD.

The No. 911 Manthey Porsche in GTD PRO, running with the iconic “Grello” livery, will feature the trio of Klaus Bachler, Thomas Preining and Ricardo Feller. In the blue 1st Phorm-sponsored GTD No. 912 Porsche, Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera and Morris Schuring will contest the five IMSA endurance races together, joined for the 64th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona by Richard Lietz.

Bachler joins Manthey in IMSA after running full-time for AO Racing last season, where he and co-driver Laurin Heinrich won at Sebring and Laguna Seca. He won the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 title for Manthey in 2024.

Preining was the 2023 DTM champion with Manthey and tested with the team in November at Daytona International Speedway, while Feller is set to make his first Rolex 24 appearance since 2019.

“I’m really excited that it’s finally official and that I will be competing in the 2026 IMSA alongside Manthey,” said Porsche works driver Preining. “Our first test went very well, and everyone on the team is motivated and focused on the same goal: winning Daytona and making a strong statement in our first season in the U.S. The preparation has already started, and we’re looking forward to the challenge. Racing in America is a lot of fun, and it’s even more rewarding when you are successful – which is exactly what we’re aiming for.”

The trio of Hardwick, Pera, and Lietz won the LMGT3 class at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, then went on to win the WEC LMGT3 title. Hardwick and Lietz have already won at Daytona – in 2022 for Wright Motorsports – while Pera and 2025 DTM Rookie of the Year Schuring are set to make their first starts in the race.

“I’m very excited to be returning home to race in IMSA with Manthey in 2026,” said Hardwick, who returns to IMSA after a year’s absence. "After a hugely successful 2025 – including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the LMGT3 World Endurance Championship – it made perfect sense to continue with this winning team. I’ll be joined once again by Riccardo Pera this season, and we also welcome Morris Schuring to our 1st Phorm-sponsored No. 912 car for all IMSA endurance races. Richard Lietz will be back with us for Daytona, a race the two of us won together in 2022. We have a strong driver line-up that combines young talent with veteran experience, and I can’t wait to get going at the Roar (Before the 24) in January!”

Patrick Arkenau, director of Racing at Manthey Racing GmbH, said: “After the first IMSA test in Daytona in November, we are now looking forward to the official start of the season in January. We are particularly pleased to be able to count on a very strong driver line-up with close ties to Manthey: with Ryan, Riccardo, Morris and Richard as the fourth man for the 24-hour race, we are relying on absolute constants in the Manthey 1st Phorm car – we have gained a lot of experience and celebrated many successes with each of them.

"Well-known and proven faces will also be at the start for us at the wheel of the starting number 911. Alongside Thomas and Klaus, we are delighted to welcome on board Ricardo, who joins us with valuable IMSA experience. We are excited to see what we can achieve in the coming season.”