After 5 of eight DTM weekends, a transparent inner hierarchy has emerged at Porsche high workforce Manthey. Thomas Preining, who has been with the workforce since 2022 and have become champion in 2023, clearly has the higher hand over newcomer Ricardo Feller, main the qualifying head-to-head 10-0. Preining additionally holds a major lead within the total standings, sitting in fourth place with 117 factors in comparison with Feller, who’s 14th with 64 factors.
However how is Manthey dealing with the truth that Feller, because the successor to champion Ayhancan Guven, has up to now been clearly overshadowed by Preining? “We’re very glad with the event; that was clear to us beforehand,” says Patrick Arkenau, who serves as Head of Observe Operations at Manthey, when requested by Motorsport-Complete.com.
“We dont see something damaging in any respect; as a substitute, it’s progressing precisely as we wished, if not even a bit of higher,” the engineer says, backing the Swiss newcomer who has been a part of the Porsche roster for simply over a yr.
“It has turn out to be second nature for him”: Manthey sees Preining with a transparent benefit
However why didnt Manthey count on Feller to problem Preining proper from the beginning? “It was clear to us – and we all know this from earlier years – that it’s all the time troublesome to enter this atmosphere, additionally by way of the way in which we work,” Arkenau explains.
Ricardo Feller has been Thomas Preining’s teammate at Manthey since 2026
Foto: ADAC Motorsport
“And naturally, racing towards Tommy, who’s now in his fourth yr with Manthey – with the automobile, with the identical key folks, with the identical key positions – he doesnt have to consider something. It has turn out to be second nature for him,” he says, referring to the truth that Preining has been driving for Manthey because the finish of 2022 – and never simply within the DTM.
Why Feller has to adapt in a number of areas
“We noticed the identical factor with Ayhancan in 2024,” Arkenau says, pointing to Ayhancan Guven’s debut yr with Manthey. Guven had a troublesome begin in 2024, solely with the ability to sustain with Preining from the center of the season onwards earlier than sensationally turning into DTM champion in 2025.
That is additionally attributable to Manthey’s means of working. It takes a sure period of time “till you might have totally arrived on this system and might profit from it for your self. We’re seeing the identical factor now with Ricardo. In the long run, the DTM is a really particular championship – and we comply with a comparatively particular method. It merely takes time to develop collectively as a pairing.”
And there’s something else: The Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo may additionally play a job, as Feller drove the Audi R8 LMS GT3 till final yr and solely spent restricted time within the Porsche in 2025. Whereas switching to many GT3 vehicles just isn’t a serious hurdle, the agile Porsche with its rear-engine format requires a selected driving model that many drivers wrestle with initially.
Manthey expects improvement much like champion Guven
Arkenau expects Feller to endure an analogous improvement to Guven, who first broke into the highest three with Manthey on the 2024 season finale in Hockenheim with third place in each qualifying and the race. “We see a really clear upward development with Ricardo,” says Manthey’s DTM Head of Observe Operations.
“I believe we’ll see the identical factor as with Ayhancan, that Ricardo will likely be completely aggressive by the top of the season – on a par with Tommy – after which we’ll go on the total assault once more subsequent yr with two vehicles. Precisely as we noticed from 2024 to 2025,” Arkenau publicizes.
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