Manthey reveals Porsche factory driver line-up for Nürburgring 24 Hours

Credit: Luna Maas

Manthey Racing has announced their driver line-up ahead of a highly contested, competitive Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Porsche squad will be hoping to take their first win since 2021.

Attempting to rectify their last few results, Manthey Racing have appointed Kevin Estre, Thomas Preining and Ayhancan Güven to race the 'Grello' No.911 Porsche.

The trio have competed together several times, finishing runner-up in the 24 hour race twice in the last two seasons. Manthey's last victory at the 24 hour race, came in 2021 with Kevin Estre, Matteo Cairoli and Michael Christensen at the wheel.

Estre is the only driver remaining from the last winning line-up, and the Frenchman boasts a thoroughly impressive career in Sportscar racing, having won the World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar class back in 2024 with Porsche. Estre has also won several major endurance races like the 24 Hours of Spa and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (in the GT class).

Credit: Luna Maas

The No.911 Manthey squad will face fierce competition this year, especially with four-time Formula 1 champion, Max Verstappen, competing in the No.3 Winward Racing Mercedes. Verstappen has done several races around the Nordschleife in preparation for the 24 hour event, with mixed results often due to team mistakes or catching stray debris and damaging the car.

However, the No.911 Manthey Porsche line-up boasts an impressive mixture of experience, talent and aggression. Estre went from 11th on the grid, to first place back in 2021 after his first stint in the race, and will therefore be one of the stand-out drivers to look out for in the race this year, along with Audi's Christopher Haase and Mercedes' Max Verstappen.

Manthey Racing's Managing Director, Nicholas Raeder, stated; "As we finished in second place two years in a row, our goal for this year at the Nürburgring is of course clear: in our 30th anniversary year, we want to secure our eighth overall victory. With Kevin, 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.”

The Nürburgring 24 Hours takes place next month, in one of the most highly anticipated races of this new 'golden age' of sportscar racing.