Manthey Racing have announced they will enter two Porsche 911 GT3Rs into the IMSA Endurance Cup next year, with one car being the fan favourite 'Grello' entry.
The two cars, numbered #911 and #912, will be entered into the two GTD classes of IMSA's five-round Endurance Cup championship. Next year, this will comprise of races at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans.
Specifically, the Grell0-liveried #911 car will race in the GTD Pro class, with fully professional drivers at the wheel. The #912 car will race in GTD, branded as Manthey 1st Phorm with Ryan Hardwick at the wheel.
In 2025, Hardwick has raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship, also at the wheel of a Manthey 1st Phorm car, in the #92 Porsche. The American has a lot of experience in IMSA, having won both the 12 Hours of Sebring and Daytona 24 Hours in Wright Motorsport-run Porsche machinery.
Grello makes its way to the States
Manthey's 'Grello' entry is a fan-favourite car in the world of motorsports, so-called because its livery is a combination of green and yellow.
It's raced mostly in European competition until now, in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, DTM, and in the GT World Challenge Series, with a win at the 'Ring in 2021, plus taking victory at Bathurst in the 12 Hour race in 2024.
This will be the first time a Grello-liviered car has raced in the headline IMSA championship, though.
Manthey has not announced who will drive the car, but it's almost certain to crewed by some of Porsche's best factory drivers. And with previous Grello custodians Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor out of a full time FIA World Endurance Championship drive next year, could we see them behind the wheel of the #911 car?
Or, what about newly-crowned DTM champion Ayhancan Guven, also a previous Grello driver and race winner?
Manthey 'very proud' to be entering IMSA
'We are very proud to be competing in the IMSA in 2026 together with Ryan, Manthey, 1st Phorm and the Grello', said Manthry's managing director, Nicolas Raeder.
'Entering the American market has been a long-held dream of ours, as we have been following the series for many years, and the US market is also very important for our road car products.
'Entering our two Porsche in the endurance races will also provide an excellent opportunity to engage with Porsche dealers, Manthey customers, and enthusiasts. Building on our experience of competing at the Nürburgring and in the DTM and WEC since 2023 and 2024 respectively, IMSA is the next logical step for us.
'I am looking forward to this new challenge for our team, especially the season opener in Daytona.'
