Manthey’s Grello turns 10 and the Nürburgring just got its anniversary war paint
11/05/2026
This is exactly the kind of motorsport heritage we like.
For the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, Manthey is celebrating two milestones at once: 30 years of Manthey and 10 years of the Grello livery. To mark the occasion, the team will race a special one-off anniversary design that connects the yellow-and-green icon of today with the team’s earlier “Der Dicke” era, the period that helped shape Manthey’s legend in the Green Hell.
Grello is more than a livery
The Grello story officially began in 2016, when Manthey’s yellow-and-green Porsche 911 GT3 R made its debut during the former VLN 6-hour race and immediately took overall victory. From there, the livery became one of the most recognisable identities in modern GT racing.
But the roots go deeper. Before Grello, there was “Der Dicke”, Manthey’s earlier yellow-and-green Porsche that helped deliver four consecutive overall victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours between 2006 and 2009. That period gave Manthey one of the strongest reputations ever built at the Nordschleife.
The 2026 anniversary livery brings both eras together. It keeps the modern Grello identity, but adds historic references such as the green-and-yellow roof design, orange mirrors and smaller hidden details, including a reference to Manthey’s record seven overall Nürburgring 24 Hours victories.
A Porsche built for the Green Hell
Manthey will enter the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, running starting number 911. The driver line-up is serious: Kévin Estre, Ayhancan Güven and Thomas Preining. Estre was part of Manthey’s most recent overall N24 victory in 2021, while Güven and Preining both bring major Manthey and DTM success into the car.
After finishing second in both 2024 and 2025, the team has made its ambition very clear: the target is to return to the top step at the Nürburgring. And honestly, that makes the special livery even better.
Seven winning cars in one place
Manthey is also turning the Nürburgring race week into a public celebration. During the 24-hour race week, the team will display all seven of its Nürburgring 24 Hours-winning cars at the ring°boulevard. That is a rare opportunity to see the full Manthey N24 legacy in one place, from the early yellow-and-green heroes to the modern Grello era.
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The Grello has become one of the most recognisable race cars of the modern era because it looks like nothing else and has the results to back it up. That combination is rare. Many cars win. Fewer become icons.
Manthey understands something very important: motorsport is not only about performance. It is also about memory.
The sound of the car, the colour in the night, the fans at the fence, the scars of the Nürburgring, the history of victories and disappointments. Grello carries all of that.
