The Manthey Racing team, which has expanded its presence in North America, has encountered an unexpected landscape in its first season in the IMSA. Despite the two victories, competition in this championship has proven to be a considerably bigger challenge than anticipated.
The German outfit achieved victory in its second race at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in the GTD Pro category and also added another victory during its five-race campaign in the Endurance Cup. However, the efforts to compete at the highest level of American sports car racing have made the path a steeper learning curve than they had planned.
Nicki Raeder, managing director of Manthey, commented: “It was definitely a challenge. We learned a lot, in some areas perhaps even more than we originally expected. I wouldn’t say we underestimated them, but it was more demanding than we thought.”
The team, which is mostly owned by Porsche, is known for its ability to win immediately in any championship it competes in, whether in the WEC, IGTC, or DTM. But its first season in IMSA has presented an operational environment with tactical challenges they had not had to deal with before.
Raeder also emphasized the intensity of the races in IMSA: “What impressed me most personally was the intensity of an IMSA race throughout its duration. It is often said that everything is decided in the final hour, and that you just need to be in the leading lap until then. But especially in a race as long as the Petit Le Mans, it is very exhausting.”
One of the most difficult experiences was an episode at the Petit Le Mans, where the team had to manage a fuel dilemma that ultimately cost them a final seventh position. “What may seem like a wrong decision from an external perspective is actually a risk you take when you push things to the limit,” Raeder added.
The second segment of the season was complicated, with a crash at Watkins Glen and a penalty that limited the team’s options in the final standings of the Endurance Cup, where they finished in fifth place.
Despite the difficulties, Manthey has experienced a positive reception among American audiences. “One of our goals was to increase the visibility of Manthey in the United States, and I believe we have achieved that. People really enjoy the comparison between our vehicles,” a team spokesperson commented.
Looking to the future, Manthey intends to continue its involvement in IMSA, but the idea of entering the competition fully or expanding to two units per class is not immediate. Raeder concluded that if they decide to do so, it will be a combination similar to the current one.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
