Manthey EMA Leads 2025 Nürburgring 24-Hour Race as Competition Rages

The 2025 Nürburgring 24-Hour race has reached its midway point, with the Porsche customer team Manthey EMA firmly in the lead. As of 8:00 AM local time on June 22, 2025, the 911 GT3 R, piloted by Ayhancan Güven, Thomas Preining, and Kévin Estre, boasts a 22-second advantage over its nearest competitor, highlighting a strong performance on the iconic 25.378-kilometer circuit.

This endurance race, renowned for its challenging conditions and fierce competition, has once again drawn a substantial crowd, further emphasizing its status in the motorsports calendar. Manthey EMA secured the pole position, demonstrating their prowess early on, and have maintained a commanding presence throughout the night.

The race commenced at 17:30 local time but was briefly interrupted due to a power supply failure in the pit area, which halted fuel pump operations. The race resumed after a two-and-a-half-hour delay, with Manthey EMA swiftly reclaiming their leading position.

Sebastian Golz, the Project Manager for the Porsche 911 GT3 R, praised the team's performance, stating, "The Manthey EMA Porsche continued to show its strength during the night, drove smooth stints and found a good rhythm – so far, a very clean race without any mistakes or penalties."

Key competitors include the BMW team and Ferrari, with the latter currently sitting in third place, over a minute behind Manthey EMA. Other Porsches from Dinamic GT and Falken Motorsports remain competitive, holding positions within the top ten.

In this year's race, notable performances came from various drivers, including Bastian Buus and Gabriele Piana, who shared insights into their strategies and experiences. Buus commented on the unique challenges posed by nighttime driving, stating, "It was great to drive in the dark. The night is fun when you don’t have to worry about rain or changing conditions."

With temperatures soaring and the pressure intensifying, the remaining hours of the race promise to be thrilling. The event is part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, which further underscores its significance in the global motorsports landscape.

As the race progresses, the focus will be on maintaining pace and avoiding errors, a challenge that drivers acknowledge is critical in the latter stages. The official race website offers live updates, enabling fans worldwide to follow the action as it unfolds.

The implications of this race extend beyond mere competition; they signify a continuing legacy of endurance racing and the engineering excellence that Porsche embodies. As Manthey EMA leads the race, the question remains: can they hold onto their advantage, or will emerging competitors change the dynamics in the final hours? The answer will unfold as this iconic endurance race continues.