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Find out Manthey's late-call and unorthodox strategy helped Porsche secure the win in the LM GT3 class
by Khris Bharath on June 18, 2024, 06:00The 2024 Le Mans served up quite a spectacle in the brand new LM GT3 class, with Porsche’ #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R taking the win. Piloted by Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring, and Yasser Shahin, the race-spec 911 GT3 R took the checkered flag, etching Porsche’s and the Nürburing-based tuner’s name into the history books as the first manufacturer to win Le Mans with a GT3 car.
But things weren’t all sunshine for the German marque. Over in the Hypercar class, Porsche’s dreams of a win was left in turmoil as Ferrari and Toyota triumphed in the LMH class. Their best hope, was the No. 6 Porsche 963, that finished a respectable fourth overall, narrowly missing out on a podium by just one second. Having said that, the sister car and a couple of customer entries also managed to snag spots in the top 10. Hertz Team Jota and Proton Competition. Despite overcoming an accident and some penalty drama, their Porsche 963s crossed the line in eighth and ninth, respectively.
A Quick Crash Course On Le Mans
Kicking off in 1923, Le Mans has been pushing man and machine to their absolute limits for over 100 years. Forget about a podium finish, just finishing this 24-hour endurance race is considered an achievement, which is why it’s part of motorsport’s holy trinity alongside the Monaco GP and Indy 500. Manufacturers like Toyota, Ferrari, and Porsche are practically Le Mans royalty, with Porsche holding the most wins (a whopping 19) since the 1970s and the glory days of the iconic 917.
Fast forward to modern times and competition continues to remain fierce with nine manufacturers battling it out across four classes. Teams of three drivers take on this challenge every June as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship or WEC. If you’re into hyper cars (think Ferrari 499P facing off against a Porsche 963), then witness the LMH and LMDh prototypes duke it out for supremacy.
The middle ground is where you have the LM P2 class, where the cars are slightly slower. If you prefer your race cars with a hint of "street legal," then the GT Le Mans class (replaced by LM GT3 Class for 2024), featuring souped-up road going sports cars. The track itself is a 8.4-mile, with a mix of public roads with a permanent course near Le Mans, France. It has several technical sections, including 38 corners and legendary bits like the 3.7 mile long Mulsanne straight, where you can hit speeds in excess of 230+ mph.
Porsche’s Debut Le Mans Win In The New GT3 Class Amid Chaos For The Hypercar Class
As is the case with Le Mans, the weather played a starring role this year too, with torrential rain forcing the safety car to stay out for a staggering four hours. Despite the monsoon madness, it was the Manthey racing team’s unorthodox approach of a 4th driver stint (drivers typically do three stints), that got them the win. said 19-year old Morris Schuring, speaking to Autosport. Porsche still managed to grab decent points to keep them in the hunt for the World Endurance Championship title.
| Feature | Porsche 911 GT3 R (LMGT3 Winner) | Porsche 963 (Hypercar) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type | Flat-Six Cylinder | 4.6 Liter Twin-Turbo V8 |
| Displacement | Around 4.2 Liters (estimated) | 4.6 Liters |
| Horsepower | Around 416 (565 hp) | At least 500 kW (680 PS) |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Sequential Gearbox | 7-Speed Sequential Gearbox |
| Weight | Around 2,650 lbs (estimated) | 2,270 lbs (without fuel & driver) |
| Chassis | Not specified | Carbon-Fibre Monocoque |
| Suspension | Not specified | Double Wishbone (Front & Rear) |
While the top brass at Porsche might be a tad bummed about the Hypercar results (especially since Porsche were the favourites heading into the weekend), they’re definitely celebrating the LMGT3 victory. So, how do we score Porsche’s Le Mans adventure? It’s a mixed bag. They secured a historic LMGT3 win and held onto their championship lead, but the Hypercar podium dream at Le Mans didn’t see the light of day. Time to analyze the data, and get ready again for action for the next round of the World Endurance Championship at São Paulo in Brazil, on July 12th.
Khris Bharath
Khris is a Mechanical Engineer and a classic car aficionado, who adores his Jags, Alfas, and old-school American muscle cars. He keeps tabs on everything from super exotics like an old EB 110 to the latest from Lucid and geeks out on three-row family haulers. Formula One remains very close to his heart, and he diligently makes time to tune in for the Grand Prix on Sundays. Khris also loves his road trips and he prefers a stick shift over an auto. Read full bio
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