What Motorsport-Whole.com first reported a month in the past has now been formally confirmed: Porsche’s high squad, Manthey, is dropping Kai Storling – the title-winning race engineer who guided Thomas Preining to the 2023 DTM championship and with whom the Austrian has shaped an inseparable duo ever since. Following his title win, Preining famously described their day by day communication as being “like a married couple” when speaking concerning the 31-year-old.
“It’s definitely not a dream state of affairs, nevertheless it’s regular within the skilled world for individuals to go away their jobs and do one thing new,” Preining commented to ran.de concerning the departure of Storling, who made his ultimate look for Manthey on the DTM spherical in Zandvoort per week in the past. “In fact, I’d have most popular to proceed as we had been, however in the end, I respect his determination.”
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Moreover, a “good substitute for the remainder of the season” has been discovered, guaranteeing issues proceed “easily and seamlessly,” based on Preining. However who precisely is changing the engineer who led the car dynamics division at Manthey and was additionally a key a part of the “Grello” outings on the Nurburgring 24 Hours?
Established workforce determine takes over as Preining’s race engineer
As Manthey confirmed upon inquiry by Motorsport-Whole.com, Patrick Arkenau will function Preining’s DTM race engineer efficient instantly. That is none aside from the workforce’s Head of Racing, who has been setting the technical route for years and – based on the competitors – is taken into account top-of-the-line engineers within the DTM paddock.
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Renneinsatzleiter Arkenau und Preining arbeiten in Zukunft noch enger zusammen
Renneinsatzleiter Arkenau und Preining arbeiten in Zukunft noch enger zusammen
Moreover, Arkenau can also be appearing because the Staff Principal for the DTM program this yr, which means he holds a number of key positions concurrently. This additionally explains why Manthey did not make the change earlier than the season opener at Spielberg: Arkenau is already completely built-in and might take over straight from Storling, who’s leaving the corporate after seven and a half years – reportedly for personal causes.
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Storling strikes to Manthey’s former arch-rivals
The German squad from Meuspath had been conscious of the upcoming change for a while. However what’s subsequent for Storling? The engineer, who was a everlasting fixture at Manthey and performed a big position in victories on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and Spa, a Bathurst 12 Hour triumph, and a GT class win at Le Mans, is transferring to Munich together with his spouse.
SSR Efficiency und Manthey waren einst nicht nur auf der Strecke Erzrivalen
SSR Efficiency und Manthey waren einst nicht nur auf der Strecke Erzrivalen
Staying with the Nurburgring-based Porsche workforce would have been tough because of the geographic distance. Paradoxically, Storling will work for Manthey’s former arch-rival, the very workforce he and Preining fought towards for the 2023 DTM title: SSR Efficiency.
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New management position at SSR Efficiency
The Munich-based firm introduced on the finish of Might that Storling would tackle a management position, serving as “Operations Supervisor” answerable for day-to-day operations as of June 1, 2026.
For context: SSR Efficiency withdrew fully from lively racing on the finish of 2024 after successful the DTM title with Lamborghini and Mirko Bortolotti. Since then, the corporate has targeted on optimizing luxurious autos and internet hosting monitor days. Nonetheless, a comeback as a racing workforce in its personal proper can’t be dominated out.
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“We’re very glad that Kai is becoming a member of our sports activities automotive facility in Freimann. He brings a wealth of expertise from his involvement in world motorsport and is a graduate mechanical engineer specializing in automotive expertise. He’ll tackle administration duties throughout all areas by which the corporate is positioned,” mentioned SSR boss Stefan Schlund, welcoming the brand new addition from Meuspath.
Storling: “I’m stress-resistant and maintain a cool head”
Particularly since SSR Efficiency intends to “act as a improvement service supplier” sooner or later, Schlund introduced. “We provide our prospects providers for car improvement of all types. Whether or not software program or {hardware}, from powertrain functions to the design of dampers and axle kinematics – Kai Storling will help us together with his experience.”
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Car dynamics professional Storling himself is “enthusiastic about my new activity” after ten years in motorsport. “At SSR Efficiency, I wish to dedicate myself to new fields of exercise and am glad if somebody advantages from my expertise.”
Concerning his personal strengths, he famous with a smile: “I can say that I’m stress-resistant and maintain a cool head in difficult conditions. That definitely does not harm when coping with fast-paced processes.”
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