Manthey will celebrate two major milestones with a one-off tribute livery at next weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The defending LMGT3 class winner will run the special design across both of its Porsche 911 LMGT3 R entries at the 94th edition of the French endurance classic, which takes place from 10-14 June.
The #91 Manthey DK Engineering Porsche will be shared by James Cottingham, Timur Boguslavskiy and Ayhancan Güven. Meanwhile, Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz will drive the sister #92 The Bend Manthey entry.
Porsche heritage inspires Manthey’s Le Mans look
Manthey has created the special livery to mark its 30th anniversary and 75 years of its partner, Porsche Motorsport. The design connects Porsche’s earliest Le Mans success with Manthey’s current LMGT3 programme.
The custom colour scheme draws inspiration from the silver Porsche 356 SL Coupé. That car secured Porsche’s first Le Mans class victory in 1951, when the German manufacturer made its debut at the event.
Since then, Porsche has built a remarkable record at Le Mans, with 112 class wins to date. Moreover, the marque has maintained an uninterrupted presence on the starting grid since its maiden appearance.
Porsche Motorsport Vice-President Thomas Laudenbach said: “We are not just the record-holders for overall and class victories, but also the only manufacturer to have had at least one car on the starting grid at Le Mans without interruption since 1951. That statistic makes us very proud.
“It also underscores just how much Porsche relies upon motorsport as a development platform, bringing innovations to production readiness through racing engagements, including at Le Mans. They are thus ‘raceborn’ in the truest sense of the word.”
Manthey adds its own La Sarthe story
Alongside the Porsche references, the livery also includes visual elements that highlight Manthey’s own history at Le Mans. Over three decades, the Eifel-based outfit has claimed six class victories at La Sarthe.
The team first triumphed at Le Mans on its debut in 1999. Then, in 2013, Manthey strengthened its ties with Porsche AG and became the operational team for the manufacturer’s GT programme in the FIA World Endurance Championship. That partnership delivered immediate success, as Manthey won the LMGTE Pro class in its first season in that role. The team then added further LMGTE Pro victories in 2018 and 2022.
Following the end of Porsche’s factory involvement in GTE Pro, Manthey returned to Le Mans under its own name when LMGT3 joined the FIA WEC in 2024. Since then, the team has remained unbeaten at Le Mans in the category and has also taken the LMGT3 title.
Manthey targets a Le Mans hat-trick
This year, Manthey heads back to Le Mans with more momentum. The #92 crew sits at the top of the LMGT3 championship standings, while the team chases a third consecutive Le Mans class victory in the category.
Manthey Racing Director Patrick Arkenau said the design reflects both Porsche’s past and Manthey’s present ambitions.
“We are delighted to be able to represent two special anniversaries at Le Mans. The reference to Porsche’s first class victory at Le Mans marks the beginning of a unique success story, while the elements of our current cars show that we are actively shaping this story today.”
The tribute livery therefore serves as more than a visual celebration. It also places Manthey’s current LMGT3 campaign within a wider Porsche story that stretches back to 1951.
Le Mans remains central to Manthey’s identity
Le Mans has shaped several defining chapters in Manthey’s history. The team began its winning story at the event in 1999, then developed into a successful Porsche works operation, and now continues that record in the LMGT3 era.
Manthey Managing Director Nicolas Raeder said the race still holds special significance for the company.
“Le Mans has always been an integral part of Manthey’s history, from the class victory on our debut in 1999, which laid the foundation for our successful years as a Porsche works entry, right through to our current successes in the LMGT3 category. This design reflects not only our close connection to Porsche Motorsport, but also the continuity and significance of this race for our company.”
As a result, Manthey will arrive at Le Mans with a livery that celebrates its past while reinforcing its current strength. With two anniversary milestones, two Porsche entries and a potential LMGT3 hat-trick on the line, the team will carry both history and momentum into the 24-hour contest.
