Manthey has confirmed its roster for next month’s Nürburgring 24 Hours, as the German outfit bids for a record-breaking eighth overall victory.
Porsche factory drivers Kévin Estre, Ayhancan Güven and Thomas Preining will pilot ‘Grello’, the #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2), with Matt Campbell acting as reserve driver.
This means that Manthey is set to field an unchanged trio from last year, when it won on the road but lost out on victory to Rowe Racing due to a time penalty. All three drivers also raced for the team in 2024, when they were joined by Laurens Vanthoor for another runner-up result.
“I’m very happy to be back behind the wheel of the Grello. As every year, this race is a major highlight of my season – perhaps even the biggest one this time,” Estre said.
“In the past, we have repeatedly shown that we are capable of winning, even if the ultimate success has eluded us in recent years. All the more reason for me to look forward to lining up again together with Thomas and Ayhancan. Our collaboration worked very well last season, and hopefully we can improve even further this year.”
Güven added: “After finishing second two years in a row, the clear goal for this year is to claim my first victory at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and secure Manthey’s eighth win in this fantastic race. Following the strong performances of the past few years, I’m confident that we are very well positioned for this year’s race.”
2026 marks several key milestones for Manthey, with this year the 30th anniversary of the team being founded, the 20th anniversary of its first Nürburgring 24 Hours victory, and the 10th anniversary of its iconic ‘Grello’ livery.
The team’s preparations for this year’s race have involved multiple test outings on the ‘Ring, as well as two appearances in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, during which it claimed a pair of podium finishes.
“We are very much looking forward to taking the start here in the Eifel in May together with our long-standing partners, our driver trio and our fans,” said racing director Patrick Arkenau.
“We all share the same great passion for our home race in the Green Hell. With Kévin, Ayhancan and Thomas, we are relying on proven drivers. We have been working together for a long time and I believe that this continuity always brings an advantage.
“We have been putting in plenty of test and race kilometres since March and we’ve finished on the podium in both of our races at the Green Hell. I’m confident that we’re well prepared for the first qualifying session and will put on a good show for the spectators.”
The 2026 ADAC 24H Nürburgring will be held on 14th to 17th May 2026.
Image courtesy of Porsche Motorsport
