German squad Manthey expanded its racing program to North America, initially delivering the dominant performances typical of the team in championships like WEC, IGTC, and DTM. The team secured a class victory in only its second race at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in GTD Pro, followed by another class win for its GTD entry during its five-race Endurance Cup campaign. However, competing at the top level of American sports car racing proved to be a far steeper learning curve than expected for the Meuspath-based team, as reported by Motorsport.com.
Intense Racing and Tactical Challenges
Manthey Managing Director Nicki Raeder told Motorsport.com that the transition was definitely challenging and that the team learned a great deal, stating that the competition was more demanding than they originally believed. Raeder highlighted the relentless intensity of an IMSA race over the entire distance, noting that the constant pressure and complex rules, such as wave-by procedures, required 110 percent focus without any rest periods. That high-pressure environment culminated at the Petit Le Mans finale, where a late-race fuel gamble resulted in the car running short by just 250 milliliters of fuel, leaving them seventh and missing a potential podium.
The fuel shortage capped off a mixed second half of the season following the Sebring triumph. A crash at Watkins Glen and a drive-through penalty for exceeding power parameters during the final hour at Road America hampered their championship bid, leaving them fifth in the final Endurance Cup standings. Throughout the season, Manthey also engaged in a high-profile rivalry with AO Racing’s “Rexy” Porsche. Rather than hiring specialized IMSA crew members, Manthey utilized its regular European core staff to ensure knowledge stayed within the company, a strategy Raeder fully supports.
Surprising US Reception and Future Plans
The entry successfully achieved its commercial goal of building brand recognition across the Atlantic, with the rivalry between Rexy and Grello capturing fan imagination. A team spokesperson told Motorsport.com that they were pleasantly surprised by how well-known they already were, with many paddock visitors expressing that they had been Grello fans for a long time.
Looking ahead, Manthey is working on continuing its IMSA involvement, although full-season entries or expanding to two cars per class remain off the table for the immediate future. Raeder expressed that the team would be delighted to return with a similar combination. With Porsche recently increasing its stake in Manthey from 51 to 67 percent, Raeder also addressed the potential for stepping into prototype racing, noting that while nothing is concrete right now, the team would trust themselves with such a project and would love to try it.
