After five weekends in the DTM competition, the internal dynamics of the Manthey team is clear: Thomas Preining, the 2023 champion, enjoys an indisputable superiority over newcomer Ricardo Feller. Preining leads with a resounding 10-0 in qualifying, occupying fourth place in the overall standings with 117 points, while Feller, in fourteenth place, has only 64 points.
The head of track operations at Manthey, Patrick Arkenau, has expressed satisfaction with the team’s development, although he acknowledges that Feller has been overshadowed by Preining. Arkenau states it was predictable that Feller, who is replacing Ayhancan Guven, would not immediately begin competing for positions with his teammate.
According to Arkenau, ‘the fact that he is competing with Tommy, who has already been with Manthey for four years and is familiar with the car and the team, gives him a significant advantage.’ Preining has built a strong connection with the team, making his adaptation natural.
Arkenau also highlights that this type of adaptation is common in the motorsport world. He recalled the case of Guven, who initially had a difficult start in 2024 but managed to become champion in 2025. Manthey hopes that Feller has a similar trajectory throughout the season.
The differences in driving style can also influence Feller’s performance, who until last year competed with an Audi R8 LMS GT3. The transition to the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo involves an adjustment to his driving style.
Arkenau is confident that by the end of the season, Feller will be competitive at Preining’s level. ‘We are observing a clear upward trend with Ricardo,’ he stated, hoping that both drivers can compete at the highest level next year with the two units of the team.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
