The weekend at the Nordschleife for the 2026 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers unfolded under contrasting circumstances, blending competitive action with a deeply sobering atmosphere across the paddock, including the Manthey Racing crew. They faced a demanding programme shaped by limited preparation time, changing track conditions, and the pressure of executing across multiple sessions. However, the sporting narrative quickly became secondary following a serious accident on Saturday evening, which impacted teams and drivers alike.
As a result, the focus shifted beyond performance, with reflections on safety, responsibility, and the realities of endurance racing taking centre stage. Despite these challenges, Manthey Racing delivered a composed and disciplined performance on Sunday, securing a podium finish that highlighted both resilience and teamwork in difficult conditions.
Tragic accident overshadows the 2026 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers for Manthey Racing
Patrick Arkenau, Director of Racing at Manthey Racing GmbH, described the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers weekend as intense and emotionally demanding, shaped heavily by the tragic events on Saturday evening. The team responded immediately to the situation, withdrawing the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry run in collaboration with Griesemann Gruppe.
Arkenau expressed relief that Björn Griesemann emerged from the incident without injury, while emphasising that the loss of track action for the No. 992 entry became insignificant in the broader context. He also acknowledged the efforts of rescue crews and marshals, underlining their importance during critical moments. For Arkenau, the circumstances of the weekend redefined priorities, placing human impact above sporting outcomes.
“A very intense and emotional race weekend lies behind us, which was overshadowed by the serious accident on Saturday evening. Our thoughts are with the bereaved familiy, friends and the team of Juha Miettinen. Also, we would like to explicitly thank the rescue crews and track marshals. The accident also resulted in the withdrawal of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Manthey entered together with the Griesemann Gruppe. We are very relieved that Björn Griesemann was able to exit the car uninjured. The fact that we were unable to continue running entry the No. 992 for the remainder of the weekend is, from a sporting perspective, unfortunate, but clearly secondary given the overall circumstances.”
Despite problems, Arkenau is proud of Manthey’s performance at Sunday’s race at the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers
Arkenau also addressed the team’s on-track efforts, noting that preparation with the Porsche 911 GT3 R proved less than ideal due to limited testing time. This lack of track running carried into Sunday, where mixed conditions and a wet qualifying session required precise decision-making and risk management. Despite these obstacles, Manthey Racing delivered a controlled and consistent performance across all sessions.
In the race, the team maintained a strong position within the leading group and ultimately secured third place. While the result did not fully capture the overall competitive picture, Arkenau highlighted that the team capitalised on opportunities while executing a clean and error-free weekend. He pointed to the collective effort of drivers, engineers, and pit crew as a key strength, describing the performance as one the team could take pride in.
“Our preparations with the Porsche 911 GT3 R weren’t ideal, as we were short of testing time on Saturday. This made Sunday all the more challenging. Across three sessions – starting with a wet qualifying session – it all came down to getting the timing right and assessing the risks correctly. We were already able to put in a solid performance here. In the race itself, we managed to stay consistently in the leading pack and ultimately finished third. This result only partially reflects the true state of play. On the one hand, we benefited from our rivals’ mistakes. At the same time, we delivered a flawless weekend – the drivers, the pit crew and the engineers alike. We can be proud of that.”
Preining reflects on podium finish and sombre weekend at the Nordschleife
Thomas Preining approached the weekend as his first Nordschleife appearance of the season and welcomed the opportunity to return to the circuit. He viewed Sunday’s race as a positive step, with the team benefiting from key moments and securing a podium finish after a close fight towards the end. At the same time, he acknowledged that outright pace remained an area requiring further improvement, as the team occasionally struggled to match its closest rivals. Beyond performance, Preining reflected on the emotional weight of the weekend, recognising that the events of Saturday placed racing into perspective and served as a reminder of the inherent risks within the sport.
“For me, this weekend marked my first Nordschleife outing of the year, and it was great to be back behind the wheel here. Sunday’s race was positive for us – we benefited from a few issues for our competitors, and an exciting final battle brought us onto the podium, which we are very happy about. That said, we also have to admit that at times we were not quite able to match the pace of our competitors, which is something we still need to work on. However, motorsport was secondary this weekend. The events on Saturday were very difficult to process and are a reminder that, despite all the progress in safety, this sport will always carry an inherent level of risk.“
Campbell echoes podium satisfaction but acknowledges tragedy overshadows result
Matt Campbell highlighted the podium result as a continuation of strong form, following another top finish in the previous round. He credited the team’s strategy and execution, noting that they maximised every opportunity despite challenging on-track battles. While satisfied with the outcome, Campbell echoed the wider sentiment within the paddock, acknowledging that the weekend would be remembered primarily for the tragic incident rather than the racing itself. He extended his thoughts to those affected, reinforcing the understanding that, in moments like these, the sporting result carried less significance than the human impact.
“Following second place at NLS3 last week, this is another podium result for us. Sunday’s race ran without any incidents, and the team’s strategy was really strong. It was not always easy in the battles on track, but overall we maximised what was possible and are satisfied with the result. Away from the sporting side, however, this weekend will be remembered first and foremost for the serious accident on Saturday. Our thoughts are with the deceased driver, his family and everyone involved.“
