In the 75th year of its existence, Porsche is represented with a large contingent in the DTM. The customer teams Team75 Bernhard, Manthey EMA and Toksport WRT are each sending two Porsche 911 GT3 R to the total of 16 races of the season 2023.
After the successes of the previous year consisting of three race victories and four additional spots on the podium, this year the new generation of the GT3 vehicle enters the action. With six race cars, the presence of Porsche is doubled compared to the previous year.
The DTM 2023 is running for the first time under the leadership of the ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club – General German Automobile Club) and will take place between May and October at eight locations for a total of 16 races. 13 teams and six different brands are entering the field. The Porsche customer teams will rely on tried and proven staff and highly talented youngsters in the cockpits.
“2023 is the beginning of a new era of the DTM and we are well-represented with six 911 GT3 R,” outlines Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “We have strong partners by our side with Toksport WRT, Team75 Bernhard and Manthey EMA, all of whom we can support in the DTM. What tops the great program off are six absolute top drivers with a broad spectrum of experience starting from lateral entries from the Porsche Carrera Cup all the way to many years of GT experience.”
Team75 Bernhard
Team75 Bernhard expands their involvement in the DTM from one to two Porsche 911 GT3 R. The team of the two-time Le Mans overall victor and current Porsche brand ambassador Timo Bernhard is placing their bets on two swift talents: Ayhancan Güven, former Porsche Junior and Supercup runner-up already brings DTM experience to the table due to participating as guest in the 2022 season.
The German Laurin Heinrich won the Carrera Cup Germany in the previous year as Porsche Junior. He will rise up into the most well-known German race series with the team from the Saar Palatinate.
“It’s great that we will be starting with two cars this year. After our successful premiere season with two victories, this was our clear goal,” affirms Timo Bernhard.
“In terms of drivers, we are well-positioned. Ayhancan has a lot of experience in GT3 sport, he knows all the tracks and the used race tires too. I consider Laurin to be one of the most thrilling young stars. His learning curve is bound to point steeply upwards. Our team has increased in strength. Everyone is motivated to the core. I’m sure we will play a very good role.”
Team Manthey EMA
The squad of Team Manthey EMA possesses the greatest DTM experience: factory driver Thomas Preining, who served with Team75 Bernhard and fought for the title to the very last race weekend in 2022, switched to the team from the Eifel in the new year. The Norwegian Dennis Olsen, also DTM race winner 2022, will take control of the second vehicle. “I’m very happy to have the chance to return to the DTM with Manthey after 21 years,” explains Managing Director Nicolas Raeder. “In the past years, our focus was on the WEC commitment for Porsche Motorsport and the start of our 911 GT3 R – named “Grello” by fans – on the Nordschleife. Now, a new project in conjunction with EMA Motorsport is on our program. We have two quick drivers with DTM experience in Dennis and Thomas. The entire team is highly motivated and we want to prove what we are capable of with Manthey EMA in the DTM Season 2023.”
Another Porsche customer racing team will be joining for the first time in Season 2023 – Toksport WRT. The team from Quiddelbach near the Nürburgring is putting their faith in both cockpits on a mix of experience and youth: Christian Engelhart is familiar with the DTM from two races in the previous year. Youngster Tim Heinemann is moving up to the GT3 series with recommendations from two title wins during the DTM Trophy. “We can barely await our participating with the two Porsche 911 GT3 R. One ADAC GT Masters champion and a two-time DTM trophy winner will be piloting our race cars,” comments Toksport WRT team manager Sarper Sabuncu.
Race Calendar DTM 2023 (two races each)
May 26 – 28: Oschersleben (Germany)
June 23 – 25: Zandvoort (Netherlands)
July 7 – 9: Norisring (Germany)
August 4 – 6: Nürburgring (Germany)
August 18 – 20: Lausitzring (Germany)
September 8 – 10: Sachsenring (Germany)
September 22 – 24: Red Bull Ring (Austria)
October 20 – 22: Hockenheim (Germany)
