Manthey Racing entered the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours with high expectations and immediately established itself among the frontrunners. The team’s iconic “Grello” Porsche 911 GT3 R, shared by Ayhancan Güven, Kévin Estre and Thomas Preining, started from eighth position in the massive 161-car field.
Despite difficult weather conditions and a constantly evolving track surface around the 25.378-kilometre Nordschleife, the Porsche quickly gained ground. From the opening laps, the car demonstrated impressive pace and consistency, which allowed Manthey to remain firmly in contention for overall honours.
At the same time, fans packed the circuit to support the famous yellow-and-green Porsche, creating another electric atmosphere at the endurance classic.
Estre delivers strong start for Mathey at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
Kévin Estre laid the foundation for Manthey’s strong start with an aggressive and composed opening stint. The French driver rapidly climbed through the order and soon placed the No. 911 Porsche among the leading contenders.
Afterwards, Thomas Preining and Ayhancan Güven maintained the momentum. Both drivers adapted effectively to the mixed conditions, including light rain and slippery sections across the Nordschleife. As a result, Manthey stayed within touching distance of the leaders during the early hours of the race.
The team appeared well-positioned to challenge for another podium finish and potentially even the overall victory.
Oil on track ends Manthey’s race
The race changed dramatically when Estre returned to the cockpit with more than 20 hours remaining. While driving through the Brünnchen section, the Frenchman suddenly lost control after hitting oil on the circuit. The Porsche hit the barrier heavily, causing severe damage to the rear and engine area.
Although Estre escaped without injury, the impact forced Manthey to retire the car immediately. The setback marked a painful end to the team’s challenge in the anniversary year of the famous No. 911 entry.
Patrick Arkenau, Director Racing at Manthey Racing GmbH, reflected on the disappointment after the retirement while praising the pace the team had shown before the accident.
“We are, of course, very disappointed that our race with the #911 ended so early. Kévin lost the car due to oil on the track and hit the barrier – there was simply nothing he could have done to avoid it. Unfortunately, the damage was too severe and we had to shut the engine down immediately. Repairing the car was no longer an option.
“Up until that point, our race had been going very well. We were fighting at the front and were in a strong position. The result is very painful for us and we feel especially sorry for the fans, the drivers and, of course, the entire team. It was fantastic to see so many ‘Grello’ fans trackside, and we truly appreciate this great support. We would have loved to put on a strong show for longer. Our goal is clear: to come back even stronger next year and bring the #992 to the finish with a successful result.”
Raeder highlights Nürburgring’s brutal nature
Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH, stressed that unpredictable incidents remain part of endurance racing at the Nürburgring, especially under difficult conditions and with such a large field competing on the Nordschleife.
Raeder also explained that the Porsche initially continued after the impact before further damage forced the team into retirement.
“Unfortunately, an early end for our ‘Grello’ Porsche at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The car went off due to oil on the track – an incident for which Kévin bears no responsibility. This is the harsh reality of this race: situations like these can always happen and are nearly impossible to predict.
“After the impact, the car was initially able to continue, but a belt came loose, causing irreparable engine damage. Naturally, the disappointment is huge. But this is also part of motorsport: it brings extreme highs and lows, and setbacks often follow success. That is what shapes both a team and the individuals within it. The key is to keep going and come back stronger.
“I feel incredibly sorry for everyone involved – for the entire team, our partners and the fans. ‘Grello’ stands for the ambition to fight at the front whenever we compete. And when you fight for the top, you are always operating at the limit – and therefore at the highest level of risk. We were competitive and fully in the fight. It would have been a tough race, but I believe we could have delivered a strong performance. All the more unfortunate that our race ended so early. But we will not let this hold us back.”
Estre describes the crash that sees Manthey retire at 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
Kévin Estre later detailed the circumstances surrounding the accident and explained how suddenly the incident unfolded at Brünnchen. The French driver emphasised that no warning flags or visible signs indicated oil on the track before he lost control.
“Unfortunately, our race ended very early. I was in my second stint, on the second lap, in Brünnchen. I had just overtaken another car when I suddenly lost the rear due to oil on the track. There were no flags and no car ahead to warn me. I hit the barrier and the rear of the car was heavily damaged.
“I’m very sorry for the entire team – they did a fantastic job all week, as always, so this is a tough situation to accept. But that’s motorsport, and especially at the Nürburgring, anything can happen. Thanks to all the fans for the amazing support – I couldn’t be more grateful and was really happy to see so many people trackside.”
Güven reflects on missed opportunity
Ayhancan Güven admitted that the retirement felt particularly frustrating after Manthey had finished runner-up in the previous two editions of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. He also highlighted the strong pace the Porsche displayed before the accident ended the race.
At the same time, Güven pointed to the extremely challenging conditions around the Nordschleife, where light rain and oil contamination repeatedly created dangerous situations for drivers throughout the event.
“After finishing second in the last two years, it is obviously disappointing not to make it to the finish this time. An incident caused by oil on the track took us out of the race. We had a very competitive car and were in a strong position among the front runners.
“Conditions were challenging throughout – frequent light rain and oil on certain sections of the track. On the Nordschleife, especially with such a large field, these kinds of unpredictable situations unfortunately happen. This time it affected us, and I’m particularly sorry for the entire team, who once again put in a huge effort. A big thank you also to all our partners and fans for their support throughout the week.”
Preining remains determined for the future
Thomas Preining also expressed frustration after another promising Nürburgring campaign ended prematurely. However, the Austrian praised the work of the Manthey crew and insisted the team would return stronger in future editions of the race.
Preining additionally highlighted the recurring issue of oil on track during the current season and underlined how difficult such situations become for drivers competing at the limit.
“The retirement is obviously extremely bitter. We had everything in place to fight for another podium or even the win, which makes it all the more disappointing that the race ended in this way. When there is oil on the track, there is practically nothing a driver can do – and unfortunately this has been an ongoing issue for us throughout the season.
“Nevertheless, my sincere thanks go to the entire team. Everyone’s commitment was once again outstanding and each individual did a perfect job. For me, this was my fourth consecutive year in the ‘Grello’. For four years in a row, everything has worked perfectly on the team side, yet the big result has so far eluded us. Right after a race like this, it’s difficult to put into perspective – but I am certain that we will come back and attack again next year.”
Manthey shifts focus to the No. 992 Porsche at 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
Despite the crushing disappointment surrounding the retirement of the No. 911 Porsche, Manthey Racing continues its Nürburgring 24 Hours campaign with the No. 992 entry, operated together with the Griesemann Gruppe.
Consequently, the team now shifts its attention towards achieving a strong result with the remaining car while already looking ahead to another determined assault on the endurance classic next year.
Live updates from the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
