Manthey Sets Lineups for Two-Car Endurance Cup Effort

Manthey has set the driver lineups for its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program with Porsche, with Klaus Bachler and Ricardo Feller joining Thomas Preining for the team’s headline GTD Pro entry.

The German powerhouse squad, famous for its success in the Nürburgring 24 and DTM, revealed in October that it would return to the WeatherTech Championship for the first time since 2018 with a Michelin Endurance Cup effort.

Part of that would include a GTD Pro entry with the team’s famous ‘Grello’ livery, with Manthey DTM regular Thomas Preining previously tipped to form part of the effort after driving the No. 911 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo at last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway.

Confirmed on Thursday, the Austrian will be joined by compatriot Bachler as well as Feller, with the latter making his Manthey debut.

Bachler joins Manthey after forming part of AO Racing’s GTD Pro effort last year and previously won the LMGT3 title in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Meuspath-based crew.

Feller, meanwhile, returns to the WeatherTech Championship for the first time since 2019, when he drove for Land-Motorsport in GTD. The Swiss racer joins Manthey for the first time and has been tipped to form part of its DTM lineup next year alongside Preining.

“I’m really excited about our IMSA program and to be part of the Manthey team,” said Feller.

“I raced these endurance races back in 2019 and have wanted to return to the U.S. every year since.

“Now it has finally worked out — and with such a promising driver lineup. I’m confident we’ll have a strong season, and our goal is clear: we want to win.

“With the 24 Hours of Daytona as the season highlight already coming up in January, our full focus is on that race. I can’t wait for the season to finally start!“

The team’s second car, entered into the GTD class, will consists of Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera and Morris Schuring for the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, while three-time Rolex 24 class winner Richard Lietz completes the lineup at Daytona.

Pera and Schuring are both making their WeatherTech Championship debuts, with the latter moving across to join Manthey for its U.S. effort after previously racing for the team in WEC and DTM.

“I think it’s really cool that, at the age of 20, I can already say that I’ve raced in all four of the major 24-hour races at Le Mans, Daytona, the Nürburgring and Spa,” Schuring said.

“Participating with Manthey naturally gives me a lot of confidence, because I know what this team is capable of.

“Of course, we are newcomers to IMSA, but based on the work that is already taking place behind the scenes, I am convinced that we are well prepared.”

Nicolas Raeder, Manthey Racing managing director, added: “With the start of the IMSA season, a new and exciting chapter will begin for us very soon.

“We can rely on experienced drivers, most of whom already know our team from the DTM, WEC and the Nürburgring, and we are proud that these seven will represent us in America next year.

“I am looking forward to laying the foundation for a successful season with this team at the first race in Daytona.”