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US Drivers Shun Electric Vehicles Despite Rising Petrol Costs
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Business 196
US Drivers Shun Electric Vehicles Despite Rising Petrol Costs
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Jeremy Clarkson to Auction Three Grand Tour Cars
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Russia's EV Share Overtakes US as Fuel Shortages Bite
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California Grants Three-Day Return Right on Used Cars
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Trump Urges Republicans to Vote by Mail After Years of Criticising the Practice
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West Ham United to Host Queens Park Rangers in October 2026 Championship Fixture
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BMW Builds One-Off M5 Touring Police Car With 717bhp Hybrid V8
Porsche has increased its shareholding in Manthey Racing from 51% to 67%, deepening a partnership that dates back to 1996. Two special-edition models will be unveiled on 9 October 2026 to mark Manthey's 30th anniversary, alongside a new 'Home of Sports Cars' umbrella that brings Heritage, Exclusiveness and Performance under one structure.
By Edward Beaumont · 4 min read
Porsche has increased its shareholding in Manthey Racing to 67%, lifting its stake by 16 percentage points and ending any suggestion that the German sports car manufacturer might reduce its involvement in the motorsport operation. The move deepens a relationship that stretches back to 1996, when the two companies first began working together, and follows Porsche's acquisition of a 51% majority stake in 2013.
The enlarged holding will support closer collaboration between the two brands and coincides with Manthey's 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Porsche will unveil two new special-edition models on 9 October 2026, timed to the DTM finale at the Hockenheimring. The reveal places the anniversary at the centre of a race weekend that will draw attention from across the GT racing world.
Manthey has built a reputation as one of the most successful Porsche campaigners in international sports car racing. Its cars compete in Germany's DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the North American IMSA championship, and the team has taken overall victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours seven times, alongside numerous championship titles. That record has made Manthey a familiar name to followers of GT racing and a valuable technical partner for Porsche.
The relationship extends beyond the racetrack. Manthey offers road-going performance kits for a range of Porsche models, including the 911 GT2 and GT3 RS, the 718 Cayman GT4 and the all-electric Taycan, transferring lessons learned in competition to customer cars. The increased shareholding signals that this pipeline of track-derived upgrades is expected to continue and expand.
Porsche also used the announcement to set out a new structure for its sports car activities under the banner «Home of Sports Cars». The umbrella will combine several of the company's existing verticals, including Heritage, Exclusiveness — covering the Sonderwunsch and Exclusive Manufaktur limited editions — and Performance, which will now include Manthey. The arrangement is intended to give greater coherence to Porsche's sports car offering, from historic models to bespoke commissions and competition-derived performance products.
Martin Raeder, joint Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH, described the increased shareholding as a mark of appreciation. He said the team looked forward to deepening the collaboration further and supporting Porsche's «Sportwagenschmiede '35» strategy. The comment underlines the personal and strategic dimensions of the deal, which ties Manthey more closely to Porsche's long-term planning for its sports car business.
The decision to raise the stake also removes uncertainty about Porsche's commitment to the team. The manufacturer has faced a difficult year, with its stock price falling sharply, and the additional investment puts to rest any fears that it had been looking to exit motorsport or scale back its involvement with Manthey. Instead, Porsche is committing more capital and integrating the team more tightly into its performance operations.
For Manthey, the anniversary arrives with the team at the centre of Porsche's motorsport and road-car performance efforts. The two new special-edition models will serve as a visible celebration of three decades of collaboration, while the «Home of Sports Cars» structure provides a framework for future projects. The unveiling on 9 October 2026 at the Hockenheimring will bring together the anniversary, the DTM finale and the next chapter of a partnership that has already delivered seven Nürburgring 24 Hours victories and a steady stream of road-car performance kits.
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