The driver crews for Manthey EMA and Manthey PureRxcing’s FIA WEC LMGT3 class Porsche 911 GT3 R 992s are now set ahead of the Prologue test and season opener at Qatar.
The #91 Manthey EMA Porsche will be driven by Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring and Yasser Shahin, while the #92 entered under the Lithuanian flag for PureRxcing will be steered by Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm.
“After the years we spent together with Porsche in the FIA WEC, we are delighted to have found two strong partners in EMA Motorsport and Pure Rxcing to return to the series,” says Nicolas Raeder, the managing director of Manthey Racing GmbH.
“Our goal is clear: we aim to build on our successes and compete for victories and the championship. With 18 cars, the new LMGT3 starting field promises thrilling races and a close championship battle.
“We are delighted to be part of the inaugural season of the LMGT3 in the WEC and look forward to seeing what this year has in store for us. I think our team is very well prepared and everyone is highly motivated and we hope to show that right from the start.”
For the #91, which sees the DTM title-winning partnership between Manthey and EMA Motorsport resume, the team hopes that the combination of Porsche works driver Lietz, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver Schuring as well as two-time GT World Challenge Australia champion Shahin is a winning one.
Shahin appearing in the #91 is particularly notable as he tested with United Autosports towards the end of last year for a McLaren drive. His decision to join Manthey will surely come as a disappointment to the Anglo-American team.
“I’m looking forward to contesting a WEC season,” says Shahin. “I’ve always enjoyed the endurance format and believe it offers the greatest challenge and opportunity for a driver. To compete in it with Manthey and Porsche is truly a privilege and a race driver’s dream. I’ve found an excellent fit with Manthey and the way they run a race team.
“Representing the Bend Motorsport Park and EMA Motorsport on the world stage will be fantastic. It won’t be easy though – the sheer volume of driving and stints in the WEC will be physically demanding. New tracks and a new tyre add to the difficulty and challenge. But our WEC driver line-up is fantastic. We have a fabulous mix of speed and consistency.
“Richard is such an experienced endurance driver and Morris is coming off an outstanding season in the Carrera Cup. So I feel that our WEC driver line-up is extremely strong, we have excellent driver chemistry and everyone is looking forward to the start of the season.”
The #92 sees Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm reunite. The trio have already competed together for the team in the 24 Hours of Spa and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. In addition to a class victory in the Sprint Cup by Alex Malykhin, they also won the overall GT World Challenge Europe Bronze Teams classification in 2023.
Malykhin and Sturm were also behind the wheel for Pure Rxcing in the overall victory of the Abu Dhabi Six Hours and in the Asian Le Mans Series. Porsche contract driver Klaus Bachler has already covered many kilometres in the FIA WEC, most recently on the Nürburgring as well as in the IMSA.
“I’m really looking forward to the 2024 WEC season and am very proud to be driving for Manthey PureRxcing,” Bachler says. “We have a great package and a very good driver line- up.
“We have big goals and will give everything to have a great season. The calendar promises many exciting races, including Sao Paulo, where I was in 2014 when the WEC was last held there. But I’m particularly looking forward to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and, of course, the first race in Qatar in March.”
