Manthey EMA has revealed its driver line-up for the team’s two-car Porsche GT3 effort in the upcoming IGTC season-opening Bathurst 12 Hour next month.
The fan-favourite ‘Grello’ liveried #912 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Pro car will be driven by 2024 Rolex 24 Hours winner Matt Campbell, two-time 24 Hours of Spa winner Laurens Vanthoor and Bathurst debutant Ayhancan Güven.
“I’m excited to be rejoining EMA Motorsport and Manthey for the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hours,” said Campbell. “It’s one of my favourite events and tracks in the world. I might be a bit biased, but I really enjoyed last year and I hope we can improve one more position on our second place finish. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Alessio Picariello will tackle the race in the red-liveried #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R, entering under ‘The Bend Manthey EMA.’ Joining him in the Pro-Am car is Porsche Supercup race winner Harry King, who had success at Mount Panorama in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia last year, clinching victory in all three of the races at the circuit.
Completing the line-up is Australian driver and two-time GT World Challenge Australia Pro-Am Champion Yasser Shahin, who will partner with Manthey EMA in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.
“The Bathurst 12 Hours is Australia’s greatest race,” Shahin said. “It’s probably the only event on home soil where the Bend-backed team has yet to win, so we’ll be looking to change that with a strong performance and driver pairing. Harry was incredibly fast in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia at Bathurst and Alessio is a recognised world-class driver. We are very well prepared for the race and will give it our all.”
Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH, said he feels this year’s line-up is strong enough to score Manthey its first overall win in the race.
“After a very successful start to the 2023 motorsport year for us at Bathurst, we are delighted to be back at the Mount Panorama circuit in 2024. Obviously, we have some unfinished business from last year’s second place and hope to finish as high up the podium as possible this time around with the two Porsche cars we are fielding.
“This will be no easy task on the demanding circuit and with strong competition, but with our well-rehearsed team and strong driver pairings in both 911, we believe we have a good chance of taking our first win at Bathurst.”
