Manthey rebounds from Le Mans disappointment with double LMGT3 podium in São Paulo

Manthey turns strategy into a strong São Paulo recovery

Manthey responded to a disappointing 24 Hours of Le Mans with a composed double finish at São Paulo, placing its Porsche 911 GT3 Rs third and fourth in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 18-car LMGT3 field.

The result was a significant turnaround for the Eifel-based outfit, which had won its class at Le Mans in the previous three editions but left La Sarthe with only four points last month. Starting seventh and 11th at Interlagos, the two Manthey cars initially lost ground with Bronze-rated drivers Yasser Shahin and James Cottingham behind the wheel.

The recovery, however, underlined the team’s tactical strength. Both entries steadily moved forward as changing conditions placed a premium on tyre timing and execution. The race’s strategic dimension was also reflected in the wider São Paulo contest, where pit-stop decisions played a decisive role, as the Cadillac one-two bid unravelled after setbacks.

Late overtakes secure third and fourth

Shahin handed the #92 The Bend Manthey Porsche to Riccardo Pera, before Richard Lietz took over for the closing stages. The Austrian used his experience to apply sustained pressure and completed a decisive pass on Sebastian Priaulx’s #77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang with less than 15 minutes remaining, securing the crew’s third podium in four WEC starts in 2026.

“Despite the changing conditions, we managed to get the maximum out of our package,” Lietz said. “This third-place finish allowed us to score valuable points for the championship.” Lietz, Pera and Shahin now sit fourth in the standings at the season’s halfway point.

The #91 Manthey DK Engineering Porsche followed a different route, becoming the first LMGT3 car to pit for new tyres. That decision helped Cottingham climb into the top five, while Timur Boguslavskiy and Ayhancan Güven maintained the momentum. Güven’s late pressure produced several overtakes, with the car finishing less than half a second behind its sister entry.

“Finishing fourth in São Paulo after starting from P11 was a really strong result,” Güven said, targeting continued progress at Austin and the team’s first podium of the year for the #91 crew.

Momentum heading to Austin

Racing Director Patrick Arkenau credited the team’s strategy, largely trouble-free execution and driver performance. Managing Director Nicolas Raeder said the double result restored the #92 crew’s championship momentum while keeping the #91 entry in contention.

The WEC campaign resumes at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas from 4–6 September, where Manthey achieved a double podium two years ago.

Manthey turns strategy into a strong São Paulo recovery