With its entry into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Manthey considerably expands its international commitment. After numerous successes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the DTM, the team is competing for the first time under its own name in North America’s most important sports car championship from 2026.
Manthey does not, however, focus on the full IMSA season. The team competes exclusively in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup and thereby contests the five tradition-rich endurance races of the calendar.
What is the Michelin Endurance Cup?
The Michelin Endurance Cup is a standalone classification within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It covers only the longest races of the season and presents teams with different challenges than the sprint events.
While pure car performance is often decisive in short races, in the endurance classics factors such as reliability, strategy, pit work, tire management, traffic management and driver rotation move much more to the fore.
For an experienced endurance team like Manthey this format matches its own strengths exactly.
These are the five IMSA races Manthey runs
Rolex 24 at Daytona
The highlight of the season is traditionally the 24-hour race at the Daytona International Speedway.
The combination of a high-speed oval and a technical infield demands an uncompromising car setup. Alongside maximum reliability, night running, changing track conditions and efficient tire and brake management play a central role.
Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
Sebring is considered one of the most demanding endurance races in the world.
The former military airfield has extremely bumpy concrete slabs that load the suspension, tires, brakes and chassis exceptionally hard. Many engineers regard Sebring as the toughest stress test of the entire season.
Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
Watkins Glen combines fast direction changes with long full-throttle sections.
While the race is shorter in distance than Daytona or Sebring, it challenges teams through changeable weather, numerous yellow phases and strategically demanding pit stops.
Battle on the Bricks
The six-hour race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been part of the Endurance Cup again since IMSA’s return to the tradition-rich oval.
The permanent road course combines long straights with slow corners and demands a balanced car between top speed and traction.
Motul Petit Le Mans
The season finale is the ten-hour Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
The circuit is among the most demanding to drive in North America. Elevation changes, fast direction changes and dense traffic regularly produce an intense finish to the Endurance Cup.
Two Porsche 911 GT3 R for Manthey
Manthey runs two Porsche 911 GT3 R of the current generation.
The line-up comprises:
- Number 911 in the GTD PRO class
- Number 912 in the GTD class
While GTD PRO calls for professional crews, the GTD category requires driver crews with an amateur share in line with the FIA driver classification. Both classes use technically identical GT3 cars under FIA homologation.
Why doesn’t Manthey run the full IMSA season?
The focus on the Michelin Endurance Cup makes strategic sense.
Manthey has been one of the most successful endurance teams in the world for many years. The organization has extensive experience in races of six to 24 hours, complex strategies and high traffic volumes.
The five endurance races also carry the greatest international attention within IMSA and offer the highest sporting and media value.
At the same time, Manthey remains active in other top series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship with Porsche and various GT programs in Europe.