| For the second time, the Manthey Racing team | | | | perceives the current victory as a wonderful |
| succeeded again as it won the 24 hour | | | | gift for him as well as for his wife Renate |
| endurance race on the Nürburgring. Porsche | | | | for their silver wedding anniversary this |
| drivers Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Marc | | | | weekend. |
| Lieb along with Marcel Tiemann bested more | | | | |
| than 200 racers with a one-lap advantage. The | | | | The story of the 2007 marathon will be marked |
| team players were driving their new Porsche | | | | in history as one of the most unusual races. |
| 911 GT3 RSR that is well equipped with high | | | | The Eifel classic had to be delayed by almost |
| performing parts like Porsche oxygen sensor. | | | | two hours due to the anguishing rain fall. At |
| | | | 4:51 in the afternoon, the heavy rain stopped |
| In front of a crowd with 210,000 spectators, | | | | and so the race started. Then, at 3:54 in the |
| the success at the 35th edition of the long | | | | morning, thick fog hindered the race. In |
| distance classic records the eighth victory | | | | effect, the race management was obliged to |
| for a Porsche. Run by Land Motorsport, the | | | | interrupt the event for about five-and-a-half |
| 911 GT3 RSR was in the third place behind the | | | | hours. So the restart took place at 9:31 in |
| Dodge Viper of Zakspeed Racing. | | | | the morning. |
| | | | |
| After beginning from pole, the four Manthey | | | | After the race, Timo Bernhard said that |
| Racing drivers set the speed right from the | | | | winning the Nürburgring 24 hour endurance |
| start. The weather condition was extremely | | | | race in two consecutive years is 'a dream |
| challenging due to the combination of heat, | | | | come true'. According to him, they managed to |
| rain and fog. But this did not hinder the | | | | find a good set-up for the oddities of the |
| team from winning. Bernhard, Dumas, Lieb and | | | | Nordschleife in the Long Distance |
| Tiemann were still in perfect driving | | | | Championship. He was so grateful with the |
| condition. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that was | | | | cooperation of the new 911 GT3 RSR that had |
| developed and built in Weissach also finished | | | | not experience any problem, even a single or |
| its maiden race at the Nürburgring 24 hour | | | | minor one, over the 24 hours. |
| endurance race without incurring any | | | | |
| technical problems or flaws. | | | | Romain Dumas reacted that the event was |
| | | | amazing. He was particularly amazed by the |
| Hartmut Kristen, the pleased head of racing, | | | | fact that he have been racing on the |
| said that the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR once again | | | | Nordschleife for the third time now and he |
| confirmed its potential because of its | | | | won the recent and one of the most important |
| undeniable winning. He largely complements | | | | races around the world. He said that the |
| the efforts exerted by the Manthey Racing | | | | track was one-of-a-kind and the unpredictable |
| team who did a nice work. He commented that | | | | weather condition put a lot of pressure on |
| the four drivers turned quick laps at exactly | | | | them. He added that of his many experiences |
| the appropriate time. He further said that | | | | in the race, he would never forget his drive |
| the team drivers were cautious just when the | | | | in thick fog during the night. |
| situation warranted it and this hugely | | | | |
| contributed to the team's winning again. He | | | | Marc Lieb was also definitely proud to have |
| was very pleased that their drivers exuded | | | | won the greatest race in Germany. He said |
| characteristics of a great long distance | | | | that he secured class victory at the 24 hour |
| pilot. He added that the Nürburgring means | | | | events in Daytona and Le Mans and an overall |
| a lot to Porsche and that was because of all | | | | victory at Spa. He considers the team's |
| the Porsche teams who once again put the | | | | success in the Nürburgring a very special |
| racing team one step higher. | | | | one. |
| | | | |
| Olaf Manthey, the team principal could hardly | | | | This was also Marcel Tiemann's third time to |
| believe his fortune. According to him, | | | | hold the winners' trophy on the podium of |
| before, he had first to wait for a really | | | | this 24 hour endurance race. He said that |
| very long time to get what for him is the | | | | reliability and fast car are the requirements |
| most important race all over the world. But | | | | in winning the race. He complements the |
| now, their team won for the second | | | | entire team for a job well done last weekend. |
| consecutive year from pole position. He | | | | |