As reported by Sportscar 365, Manthey Racing has unveiled a special version of its famous “Grello” Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo ahead of this weekend’s Nürburgring 24, as the team celebrates two major milestones.
The German squad will mark its 30th anniversary this year, while its iconic yellow-green Grello livery also reaches its tenth year. To recognise both occasions, Manthey has created a design that brings together visual elements from historic cars and links the team’s past, present and future.
Manthey will run the No. 911 Porsche with a full-factory line-up of Kevin Estre, Ayhancan Guven and Thomas Preining. The trio will chase another overall victory for a team that already shares the all-time Nürburgring 24 wins record with Phoenix Racing, with both outfits sitting on seven outright triumphs.
Manthey honours three decades of success
Manthey’s new livery celebrates a story that started long before Grello became one of GT racing’s most recognisable designs. The team built its reputation through success on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and its record at the 24-hour race remains one of the strongest in the event’s history.
Therefore, the anniversary design carries more than just a fresh look. It reflects the team’s growth from a domestic powerhouse into an international Porsche force. It also pays tribute to the foundations laid by Olaf Manthey, whose name continues to shape the organisation’s identity.
“We are delighted to be celebrating both Manthey’s 30th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of ‘Grello’ this year,” said the team’s managing director Nicolas Raeder. “Both represent a success story that Olaf Manthey laid the foundation for and that we are privileged to continue today – now on the international stage as well.
“The special livery we’ll be racing with at the 24h Nürburgring honors this evolution and also highlights the connection between the past, present, and future. I hope our fans will enjoy the design as well. Just like our long-standing partners and our employees, they are an integral part of the history of the car and the entire company.”
Grello legacy starts at the Nordschleife
The Grello identity evolved from “Der Dicke”, the Porsche that carried Manthey to four consecutive Nürburgring 24 overall victories from 2006 to 2009. That period helped define the team’s modern reputation and strengthened its connection with the Nordschleife.
However, Grello then created its own legacy. The yellow-green Porsche first appeared in 2016 during a six-hour race in the former VLN series. It won on debut, immediately turning a bold colour scheme into a competitive symbol.
Since then, the livery has become one of the most recognisable in global GT racing. Its fame has stretched beyond the Nordschleife, with victories also arriving in DTM and major endurance events such as the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.
As a result, this latest design does not simply celebrate a paint scheme. Instead, it marks a decade of racing identity, fan recognition and international success.
Factory Porsche line-up targets eighth win
Manthey will field a formidable factory-backed crew in the No. 911 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. Kevin Estre, Ayhancan Guven and Thomas Preining will share the car as the team aims to return to the top step of the Nürburgring 24 podium.
The squad has come close in recent editions. After finishing second in both 2024 and 2025, Manthey arrives with a clear sporting objective. The team wants to convert recent near-misses into its eighth overall victory and move ahead of Phoenix Racing in the all-time winners’ list.
Manthey director of racing Patrick Arkenau made that ambition clear while also reflecting on the livery’s history at the event.
“The ‘Grello’ made its debut on this track ten years ago, and following the cancellation due to the pandemic, this will be the eighth time we’ve competed in the 24-hour race with this distinctive livery.
“Especially after our two second-place finishes in 2024 and 2025, our sporting goal is clear: we want to finally be back on top. We’re looking forward to the race week with our fans and partners and hope for an exciting event.”
That target gives the anniversary campaign a sharper edge. Manthey will not only celebrate its heritage; it will also try to add another major chapter to it.
Special design links past, present and future
The anniversary Grello livery uses elements from historic Manthey vehicles, creating a design that connects several eras of the team’s story. In doing so, it recognises the cars that shaped Manthey’s identity while giving the current Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo a fresh look for the 24-hour race.
Furthermore, the timing gives the design extra significance. Grello returns to the circuit where it made its debut ten years ago, and it does so during the team’s 30th anniversary season. That combination turns the Nürburgring 24 into both a sporting challenge and a major celebration.
The car will also carry the expectations that come with Manthey’s long record at the event. The team has built its reputation around precision, consistency and Nordschleife knowledge, and those qualities will again prove vital across a full day of racing.
Manthey eyes a landmark Nürburgring result
Manthey heads into the Nürburgring 24 with one of the most talked-about cars in the field and one of the strongest driver line-ups. The special Grello design will draw attention, but the team’s main focus remains victory.
If Estre, Guven and Preining can deliver, Manthey would claim an eighth overall win and stand alone as the most successful team in Nürburgring 24 history. That achievement would give the anniversary livery a fitting place in the team’s story.
For now, the No. 911 Porsche represents a bridge between Manthey’s past achievements and its future ambitions. With Grello celebrating ten years and the team marking three decades, Manthey will aim to turn a symbolic weekend into another defining Nürburgring triumph.
