• Ryan Hardwick, Morris Schuring and Riccardo Pera finish second in the GTD class at Petit Le Mans
• Car number 911 loses a likely podium finish after running out of fuel on the final lap and is classifies seventh in GTD PRO
• Manthey concludes its first season in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup

Braselton. With second place for the Porsche 911 GT3 R carrying race number 912 in the GTD class and a strong but ultimately unrewarded performance from car number 911 in the GTD PRO category, Manthey has concluded its first season in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. Once again, the ten-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was shaped by changing conditions, numerous caution periods and strategic decisions right down to the final lap.

“Petit Le Mans, and therefore our final IMSA race of the season, certainly followed the pattern of the recent events. It was another extremely chaotic, demanding and strategy-driven endurance race. Following a race interruption due to lightning in the area, the weather ultimately played a much smaller role than expected as the track dried out and remained largely consistent until the finish. Instead, the race was mainly defined by multiple caution periods and strategic calls in the closing stages,” said Patrick Arkenau, Director Racing at Manthey Racing GmbH, reflecting on the final ten-hour race in the US state of Georgia.

“With car number 911, Thomas, Mathieu and Klaus showed strong pace throughout the entire race and consistently remained among the frontrunners after starting from fifth on the grid,” he continued. “Despite a drive-through penalty around three hours before the finish that set us back slightly, we managed to fight our way back into contention for the leading positions. In the closing stages, we were running second and remained fully in the battle for victory. The race ultimately turned into a real fuel-saving thriller. Unfortunately, we ran out of fuel only a few corners before the finish on the final lap. Up until that point, a podium finish had looked secure. Naturally, that is disappointing. At the same time, car number 911 demonstrated its competitiveness and the potential of our team throughout the entire race.

The Manthey 1st Phorm crew also delivered a very strong performance. Ryan Hardwick impressed during his final race with a strong opening stint, excellent pace and several impressive overtaking manoeuvres before Morris Schuring and Riccardo Pera seamlessly continued the charge. Following contact in a congested restart situation, which resulted in a puncture, the car temporarily lost a lap. However, strong strategy, flawless pit stops and competitive pace allowed the team to recover the deficit and rejoin the fight at the front. The GTD class became heavily influenced by strategy and energy management in the closing stages. Riccardo did an excellent job, preserving valuable fuel reserves compared to the competition. Following the final caution period, we were able to mount one last attack for the lead. In the end, we fell just short of victory, but we are very satisfied with second place. It marks the second podium finish for car number 912 in only five IMSA appearances.”

Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH, added: “Petit Le Mans was a demanding season finale with both highs and lows. I am particularly pleased that we were able to end Ryan Hardwick’s final race with a second-place finish. It is a well-deserved result for Ryan and the entire Manthey 1st Phorm team. Naturally, the disappointment surrounding car number 911 in its special Viessmann livery is considerable because we were fighting for victory until the very end. We knew the fuel strategy would be extremely tight and consciously decided to take that risk. To fall short by only a few corners and a very small amount of fuel makes the result particularly bitter. Nevertheless, we look back very positively on our first IMSA season. We have demonstrated that we can fight for victories and podium finishes while gaining valuable experience at the same time. My sincere thanks go to all our drivers, partners and the entire team at the circuit and in Meuspath for their commitment throughout the season. The experience gained this year provides a strong foundation, and we are confident of returning even stronger in 2027.”

The racing season continues without pause for Manthey. Next weekend (10-11 October 2026), the team will compete in the DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Attention will then turn to the last stage of a four-week back-to-back run of events, the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Barcelona from 16 to 18 October 2026.

Quotes on the Motul Petit Le Mans 2026

Klaus Bachler, Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R #911: “It is obviously a very disappointing way for our race to end. At the same time, I am very proud of the entire team and my team-mates because everyone fought hard to achieve a strong result. Until shortly before the finish, second place looked within reach, but unfortunately we ran out of fuel in the final metres of this ten-hour race. We knew it was going to be close and we tried everything possible. These are the kinds of decisions that are part of motorsport. Of course, we would have preferred a different outcome, but there is nothing we can change now. I am especially happy for car number 912. Seeing Ryan finish his final race at Petit Le Mans on the podium at his home event is something very special.”

Mathieu Jaminet, Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R #911: “Of course, it is disappointing not to finish the race as we had hoped. At the same time, it was a very positive weekend overall and I thoroughly enjoyed being back in GT competition with Manthey. We had the pace to fight for victory and the performance of the car was very strong throughout the race. In the end, a few details prevented us from achieving the result that was possible. Days like this are part of motorsport, but they also provide important lessons for the future. This was Manthey’s first IMSA season in the United States and the team has already made impressive progress over the course of the year. I am convinced there is plenty more to come. Personally, I would have loved to leave with a trophy, but I am very grateful to have been part of this project. It was great fun working with the team, and hopefully there will be another opportunity to race together in IMSA in the future.”

Thomas Preining, Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R #911: “It was not an easy race for us. From an operational perspective, there are certainly a few things we can learn from as a team. IMSA is still a relatively new environment for us, and experiences like this help us continue to improve. At the same time, we gave everything and managed to fight our way back into a strong position despite several setbacks. It was a very intense race with a lot of battles and contact. Even so, we were on course for a podium finish until shortly before the flag. Running out of fuel only a few hundred metres from the finish naturally makes the result particularly frustrating. At the same time, I am very happy for the crew of car number 912 and especially for Ryan. To finish his final race at Petit Le Mans with a podium is a great story. We will take the lessons from this season and come back stronger.”

Ryan Hardwick, Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R #912: “What a way to end both the season and my time racing in IMSA. The fact that my final race took place here at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta makes it especially emotional because this is where it all started for me. Naturally, I wanted to win this final race and we came very close. I am incredibly proud of the entire team, the engineers, mechanics and my team-mates. We had a fast and competitive car all day, fought our way to the front and even led the race at times. In the end, we only just fell short. To spend my final race fighting for victory until the finish and then stand on the podium with Morris and Riccardo is a very special feeling. It was an emotional weekend, with my family, friends and many people who have been part of my journey all here to support me. I enjoyed every lap and I will never forget this day. Ending my career with a podium finish means a great deal to me, and I look forward to following what Manthey can achieve in IMSA in the years ahead.”

Riccardo Pera, Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R #912: “I am very happy with this result. Finishing second at Petit Le Mans is a fantastic achievement and I am very proud of the entire team. We had a strong car, a good strategy and my team-mates did an excellent job as well. Of course, there is a small sense of disappointment because victory was within reach until the very end. I pushed as hard as possible during the final hours to close the gap to the leader, and in the end only a few tenths of a second made the difference. Nevertheless, we can be very satisfied with this result. I am especially pleased for Ryan. To finish his final race and his home event on the podium at Petit Le Mans makes the day even more special for the entire team. We worked extremely well together and can be proud of what we achieved.”

Morris Schuring, Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R #912: “It was an intense race from the very beginning. The wet start, the drying track and the changing conditions immediately created challenges for everyone. Ryan did a great job in the opening phase and put us in a strong position before Riccardo and I took over. Throughout the race, we performed very well as a team. We consistently made the right calls on tyres and energy management and steadily worked our way forward. At a certain point, it became clear that the fight for victory would mainly be against the Mercedes. We gave everything we had and battled right to the end, but ultimately came up just short. Even so, we can be very proud of our performance. We extracted the maximum from the race and can look back on a great result. It is my first IMSA podium, which makes it a very nice way to end the season. Being able to send Ryan off with a podium finish at his home race and in his final IMSA appearance makes the day even more special for the whole team.”