Manthey rekindles LMGT3 title charge with Austin podium breakthrough

Manthey remains firmly in contention for the LMGT3 crown despite missing out on a race win so far in 2026. Unbeaten in the class title battle since its introduction in 2024, the German squad finds both of its crews positioned third and fifth in the championship standings, separated by just one point after five rounds with three races remaining.

Contrasting Fortunes in Austin

The Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas delivered contrasting afternoons for the team’s two entries. While Aston Martin's Valkyrie celebrated podium success on the same weekend, Manthey endured heartbreak with its #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Running under The Bend Manthey banner, the trio of Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera, and Richard Lietz failed to score following an early clash that inflicted steering damage on Shahin’s car, leaving them six laps down.

In contrast, the sister #91 Manthey DK Engineering crew mounted a sustained victory bid. Starting third, James Cottingham impressed during a strong opening double-stint to earn the fan-voted Goodyear Wingfoot Award as ‘Driver of the Day’. Timur Boguslavskiy and Ayhancan Güven maintained that front-running pace to secure second place. However, a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage proved pivotal, matching the eventual margin that cost them victory.

“Lone Star Le Mans was once again an exciting race, and – with light rain falling on-and-off – a strategically challenging one for the teams,” stated Manthey Racing Director Patrick Arkenau. “The penalty may have cost us the chance of victory, but we are nevertheless very satisfied with second place. For James, Timur and Ayhancan, it was a thoroughly deserved first joint podium finish in FIA WEC.”

High Expectations for Fuji

The second-place finish vaulted Cottingham, Boguslavskiy, and Güven from tenth to within 28 points of the championship leaders ahead of the upcoming 6 Hours of Fuji.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the podium finish,” Cottingham commented. “We had the chance to win the race, which shows our potential and how much our performance has improved since the start of the season.”

Güven, the 2025 DTM champion celebrating his maiden FIA WEC rostrum in five starts, added: “We’ve been improving steadily since Imola and now, it’s paid off. We certainly got the most out of our package.”

Boguslavskiy emphasized the title implications: “We’ve finally achieved what they all deserve... We’re now in the fight for the lead and will be aiming to secure our first win at Fuji.”