Porsche’s philosophy of building race cars to build sports cars brings motorsport expertise from the championship-winning 911 GT3 R to the road-going 911 GT3
Porsche concluded the 2026 DTM season with a double championship victory as factory driver Thomas Preining secured the drivers’ title, while Manthey claimed the team championship at the Hockenheimring in Germany.
The achievement marks Preining’s second DTM drivers’ championship following his maiden title in 2023. For Manthey, it is the team’s third championship in four years, further underlining the competitiveness of the Porsche 911 GT3 R in one of the world’s most closely contested touring car racing series.
A championship decided at Hockenheim
The 2026 DTM season reached its conclusion before 112,000 spectators at the Hockenheimring, with Preining entering the final race as the championship favorite, holding a 20-point advantage.
Despite starting seventh on the grid, the 28-year-old Austrian delivered a determined performance, steadily advancing through the field. A well-executed pit stop strategy by Manthey helped him gain further positions, while teamwork with fellow Porsche driver Ricardo Feller proved decisive in the closing stages.
Preining ultimately crossed the finish line in second place, securing enough points to clinch the drivers’ championship and complete Porsche’s double title success.
The result was another demonstration of the Porsche 911 GT3 R’s performance and reliability throughout the season, supported by Manthey’s race strategy and teamwork.
Manthey strengthens Porsche’s motorsport success
Manthey’s championship victory adds another milestone to its successful partnership with Porsche. With three team titles in four seasons, the outfit has established itself as a leading force in the DTM.
The final race also highlighted the strength of Porsche’s driver lineup. Ricardo Feller played an important supporting role in Preining’s championship-winning performance, while the Manthey team executed its strategy under intense competition.
“This success cannot be overstated. The DTM is extremely close-fought; the competition is more intense than anywhere else,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport.
“My heartfelt congratulations go out to the Manthey team. It’s an extraordinary achievement,” he added.
Maximilian Müller, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R, described the championship finale as a fitting conclusion to the team’s efforts throughout the season.
“All of our nine-eleven were right up front in the race,” said Müller. “We achieved all of that. Now a grueling year in the DTM is coming to an end with two titles for Thomas Preining and Manthey.”
Porsche’s winning tradition continues
The double championship reinforces Porsche’s long-standing commitment to customer racing, where the Porsche 911 GT3 R continues to demonstrate its capabilities against some of the strongest competitors in international GT motorsport.
Locally available Porsche 911 GT3 embodies the philosophy, “We build race cars to build sports cars”
Porsche’s championship success with the 911 GT3 R demonstrates how decades of motorsport experience continue to shape its road-going sports cars. In the Philippines, this racing heritage can be experienced in the Porsche 911 GT3, which brings motorsport-derived engineering and performance to everyday roads.
Powered by a high-revving 4.0-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine producing 510 HP and 450 Nm of torque, the 911 GT3 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds with the PDK transmission. Its motorsport-derived double-wishbone front suspension, precise steering and aerodynamically optimized design deliver exceptional handling and driving dynamics, reflecting Porsche’s guiding philosophy: “We build race cars to build sports cars.”
With another drivers’ title and team championship secured, Porsche and Manthey close the 2026 DTM season with an impressive record, reflecting the performance, precision and teamwork that remain central to Porsche’s motorsport success.
