Yahoo Autos Manthey Porsche team announces WEC LMGT3 lineups
The driver lineups for the pair of Manthey-run Porsche 911 GT3 R 992s set to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s new LMGT3 class in 2024 are now set.
The No. 91 Porsche, which will run under the Manthey EMA banner, will be driven by Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring and Yasser Shahin, while the No. 92 entered under the Lithuanian flag for PureRxcing will be steered by Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm.
“After the years we spent together with Porsche in the FIA WEC, we are delighted to have found two strong partners in EMA Motorsport and Pure Rxcing to return to the series,” says Nicolas Raeder, the managing director of Manthey Racing GmbH. “Our goal is clear: we aim to build on our successes and compete for victories and the championship. With 18 cars, the new LMGT3 starting field promises thrilling races and a close championship battle.
“We are delighted to be part of the inaugural season of the LMGT3 in the WEC and look forward to seeing what this year has in store for us. I think our team is very well prepared and everyone is highly motivated and we hope to show that right from the start.”
The No. 91 sees the DTM title-winning partnership between Manthey and EMA Motorsport continue and head to the world stage. The team hopes that the combination of Porsche works driver Lietz, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver Schuring as well as two-time GT World Challenge Australia champion Shahin is a winning one.
It is notable that Shahin, whose family own the Bend Motorsport Park, has been confirmed in a Porsche. The two-time GT World Challenge Australia champion tested with United Autosports towards the end of last year for a McLaren drive. His decision to join Manthey will surely come as a disappointment to the Anglo-American team.
“I’m looking forward to contesting a WEC season,” says Shahin. “I’ve always enjoyed the endurance format and believe it offers the greatest challenge and opportunity for a driver. To compete in it with Manthey and Porsche is truly a privilege and a race driver’s dream. I’ve found an excellent fit with Manthey and the way they run a race team.
“Representing the Bend Motorsport Park and EMA Motorsport on the world stage will be fantastic. It won’t be easy though — the sheer volume of driving and stints in the WEC will be physically demanding. New tracks and a new tire add to the difficulty and challenge. But our WEC driver lineup is fantastic. We have a fabulous mix of speed and consistency.
“Richard is such an experienced endurance driver and Morris is coming off an outstanding season in the Carrera Cup. So I feel that our WEC driver lineup is extremely strong — we have excellent driver chemistry and everyone is looking forward to the start of the season.”
Meanwhile, Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm in the No. 92 is a familiar lineup. The trio have already competed together for the team in the 24 Hours of Spa and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. In addition to a class victory in the Sprint Cup by Alex Malykhin, they also won the overall GT World Challenge Europe Bronze Teams classification in 2023.
Malykhin and Sturm were also behind the wheel for Pure Rxcing in the overall victory of the Abu Dhabi Six Hours and in the Asian Le Mans Series. Porsche contract driver Klaus Bachler brings WEC and IMSA GT experience to the lineup.
The driver news from Manthey comes in the wake of D’Station Racing confirming a brand-new trio for its 2024 LMGT3 campaign with Aston Matin. Factory driver and three-time WEC champion, Marco Sørensen will lead the lineup and will be joined by a new pairing for the team for the races other than Le Mans: Frenchmen Erwan Bastard and Clément Mateu.
Mateu, the team’s Bronze driver, is set to compete at every round bar Le Mans. There, longtime D’Station driver Satoshi Hoshino will rejoin the team for a single race.
