• Björn Griesemann, Georg Griesemann, Dirk Adorf and Marco Holzer form this year's driver line-up
• The Meuspath-based team will be fielding a new car developed in-house: the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Manthey
• Emphasis on innovation through eFuel and vehicle components made from recycled carbon fibre
• First outing planned for NLS3 and the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers in preparation for the endurance classic in May

Meuspath. Manthey Following a successful debut season in 2025, which included an overall 20th-place finish in the 24-hour race, Manthey will once again be entering a car of its own alongside the Griesemann Gruppe on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2026 — marking an exciting anniversary year for both companies. The two companies are thus continuing their partnership by entering the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Manthey, specifically developed for this purpose in Meuspath. Based on a 992.1-generation 911 GT3 Cup, the car features an extensive conversion package including components made from recycled carbon fibre. The eFuel-powered 911 GT3 Cup Manthey will compete under starting number 992. Björn Griesemann, Georg Griesemann, Dirk Adorf and Marco Holzer (all Germany) will compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring from 14 to 17 May. Prior to this, the third round of the NLS and the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers are scheduled for April.

Proven driver line-up for the development and entry of the 911 GT3 Cup Manthey

Behind the wheel of the Manthey car will be familiar faces: Björn Griesemann, Georg Griesemann, Dirk Adorf and Marco Holzer have already clocked up many kilometres on the Nordschleife with Manthey in the 2025 season competing in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport M. In various constellations, the driver line-up not only finished at the top of the class for alternative fuels but also secured places within the top 20 of the overall field. Based on this experience, not only Porsche driver Marco Holzer but also brothers Björn and Georg Griesemann were closely involved in the development of the 911 GT3 Cup Manthey. Together with the team of Manthey engineers and technicians, they have already completed several test runs of the car on various circuits across Europe since the start of the year. Throughout the 24-hour race, Dirk Adorf will be providing live commentary from the cockpit for two laps in cooperation with RTL Nitro and the official livestream, giving viewers an insight into the challenges of the Nordschleife.
 

New Manthey vehicle development once again focuses on sustainable innovation

This year, for its campaign with the Griesemann Gruppe, Manthey is switching from the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport M to a newly developed vehicle concept based on the 911 GT3 Cup (992.1). The 911 GT3 Cup Manthey features a comprehensive aerodynamics concept and cooling system, once again placing the focus on sustainable development. The newly developed front end, including fenders and bonnet, as well as the rear lid, wheel arch extensions, rear wing and boot lid, are all made from recycled carbon fibre. Furthermore, an existing chassis serves as the vehicle base to reduce resource usage. To improve performance over long distances, the vehicle features a proven central radiator concept, which simultaneously optimises the aerodynamics at the front. This design also reduces the risk of radiator damage and coolant leakage in the event of contact with another vehicle. Improved brake cooling reduces wear and ensures more durability. Further aerodynamic improvements include a front splitter with an integrated underbody, flics, as well as a newly designed rear wing with enlarged end plates and a modified wing attachment. Thanks to the new rear wing attachment, the 911 GT3 Cup Manthey utilises a flow-optimised air intake from the 991.2 GT3 Cup MR. Front and rear wheel arch extensions also provide space for track widening by 20 millimetres at the front and 50 millimetres at the rear axle. A lightweight wheel set offers a weight saving of 3.8 kilograms. For endurance racing, the 911 GT3 Cup Manthey is fitted with a closed fuel system that allows refuelling through the bonnet.

eFuel powered for the races on the Nürburgring

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Manthey will complete the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring and the preceding races entirely on the synthetic eFuel Race 98. It is produced as part of the DeCarTrans project, a research initiative at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport. The eFuel used is based on eMethanol, which is produced using green hydrogen, and can be used in existing internal combustion engines without any technical modifications (drop-in). As the vehicle will be running on climate-friendly eFuel, it will carry the AT mark for alternative fuels in the upcoming races.

Quotes on the entry of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Manthey

Patrick Arkenau, Director Racing, Manthey Racing GmbH: „We are delighted not only to continue the partnership with the Griesemann Gruppe that began last year, but also to develop it further in a targeted manner. With this new vehicle, we are once again combining our sporting ambitions with a clear focus on innovation. For us, the key focus is on demonstrating that competitive spirit and technical innovation in motorsport complement each other perfectly. This combination of racing experience and a forward-thinking approach to innovation makes the partnership particularly valuable to us.”

Jan-Helmut Brakhage, Director Race Cars, Manthey Racing GmbH: „At Manthey, the responsible and resource-efficient use of materials and technology has been an integral part of our development projects for many years. Our aim is to incorporate these principles into our products and vehicles – which is not always easy, but we have once again achieved this with the 911 GT3 Cup Manthey. At the same time, we are effectively continuing the project we started with the Griesemann Gruppe last year. The Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport M, which we developed last year, has already proven its capabilities in endurance racing, and I am convinced that we can build on this success with the new car. A lot of work has gone into the concept, development and testing, and I am proud of what we have achieved as a team. I am now looking forward to seeing the new car in action for the first time.”

Björn Griesemann, Griesemann Gruppe: „Following our strong performance last year, where we finished 20th in the overall standings, we were once again able to demonstrate the potential of synthetic, climate-friendly fuels. Manthey gives us the opportunity to build on this very foundation with our new in-house development. Developing a new vehicle concept with a focus on resource conservation was a clear team decision for us. At the same time, the eFuel GmbH enables us to continue our commitment to eFuels. eFuels will play an important role in mobility in the future. We want to continue demonstrating that they work and can replace fossil fuels in many areas. This is not only an expression of our conviction, but also a call to invest more heavily in the implementation of green technologies – because they work and have enormous potential.”

Georg Griesemann, Griesemann Gruppe: „We have repeatedly demonstrated that eFuels work even under extreme racing conditions; improving year after year and constantly setting new goals. The fundamental approach to running on eFuel has deliberately remained unchanged. This is precisely what we continue to focus on, together with Manthey. You can feel their understanding of vehicles and motorsport, honed over three decades – combined with the ability to optimise components, think innovatively and consistently integrate sustainability. eFuels and other alternative fuels have a firm place in motorsport.”