Manthey Racing and Manthey EMA completed an impressive maiden Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) season by taking the title and runner-up spot respectively in the GT championship, while Origine Motorsport ensured a top ten finish in their first ever ALMS campaign.

The 2024/25 edition got underway at the popular Sepang International Circuit where the trio of Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera took the Manthey EMA #92 onto the podium in the opener.

In a rain-affected second round, Hong Kong-based racer Antares Au wrapped up second-place alongside Klaus Bachler and Joel Sturm in the #10 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R (992). Origine Motorsport also scored their first points of the campaign, crossing the line in an impressive fifth with Yuan Bo, Leo Ye and Laurin Heinrich.

The series resumed in the new year, with the first of two weekends in the Middle East beginning in Dubai. The opener saw Manthey EMA clinch second while Chinese squad Origine Motorsport battled hard and narrowly missed out on a first podium, coming fourth.

The second four-hour enduro of the event saw all three teams finish inside the top eight, with the two Manthey cars placing fourth and fifth, while the #87 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) took eighth to ensure a strong weekend for the marque.

The finale was once again hosted at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi where Manthey secured a sensational 1-2 in the opener, with the #92 leading home the #10 crew in an impressive display which left them both in a great position heading into the title decider.

The sixth and final round of the season saw the #10 Manthey Racing crew make its way onto the top step of the podium from seventh on the grid, clinching the Asian Le Mans Series GT Championship in the process. Manthey EMA crossed the line in seventh ensuring an empathic 1-2 in their first-ever Asian Le Mans Series season.

Additionally, Origine Motorsport would claim a top ten finish in their maiden Asian Le Mans Series season.

Yuan Bo, Origine Motorsport: “It was a learning first year in ALMS, and we know that we can improve from the mistakes we made during this campaign. I’m confident the team can progress forward, and this gives me great belief that we can battle with these world class outfits next season.”

Laurin Heinrich, Origine Motorsport: “I’m proud of the squad for competing well in their maiden year in such a high-level series. It’s not the outcome we wanted but I’m grateful to be a part of this squad and now we’ve got a platform to build on for the future, so I’m confident that the team can develop from this campaign.”

Antares Au, Manthey Racing: "I’m really glad to be celebrating with the team not only a race win but also the ALMS championship victory. Huge credit to everyone in the team, mechanics and engineers as well as my amazing teammates and the drivers of our sister car. The race winner’s trophy and the championship win belongs to everyone, thank you!"

Klaus Bachler, Manthey Racing: "The second race in Abu Dhabi is over, we won today and yesterday we finished second. Even better: we won the championship. A huge thank you to Manthey. Thanks to all the mechanics, engineers and the whole crew! It was a great season, we were so strong in the pit lane and the car drove incredibly well, especially today. I won the championship with Joel for the second time, the first time with Antares. I'm also really pleased for him, because he's put so much energy into the project for years and now, we've been able to win the championship with him. It's a dream come true!"

Joel Sturm, Manthey Racing: "We won the Asian Le Mans Championship, the second time in a row for Klaus and I. It was an extremely tough season. We led the championship on the most important day, the last day, and I'm extremely proud of the whole team and also very happy for Antares that he finally won the series. A huge thanks to Manthey for the great support. They are all great people in the team who always deliver, and I am very happy to have been part of their recent successes."

Ryan Hardwick, Manthey EMA: "First and second place in the ALMS Championship. What an amazing result for Manthey! First, I want to congratulate all drivers of our sister car. Joel, Antares and Klaus drove amazingly all season and they are very deserving champions. As for our car I am more than proud of the hard work, dedication and the results, that we earned as runner up in the championship. I’m very honoured to be part of such an amazing team, that showed unbelievable determination and achieved some great things during my very first time competing in the ALMS. I very much enjoyed my time in the series and the competition."

Richard Lietz, Manthey EMA: "For us, the ALMS also started with the idea of preparing ourselves as well as possible for the joint WEC season. The fact that we can then compete for the championship and go into the final races as the leader can, I think, be described as a very successful season. With P1 and P2 in the championship, Manthey has once again proven that it is a top team. They have fulfilled all expectations and set the bar high."

Riccardo Pera, Manthey EMA: "It has been a great journey in the ALMS. We made a huge step forward since Malaysia. The fact that we ended up in the fight for the championship is amazing. In the end the sister car won, but a good 1-2 finish for Manthey and I am super proud to be part of such a professional team."

Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “It’s been another brilliant season of Asian Le Mans action, and amazing to see 10 Porsche entries battle it out in a highly competitive GT class. Massive congratulations to Manthey and Manthey EMA for their incredible debut campaign, finishing 1-2 in the GT Championship! We’re particularly proud to see Antares, who debuted in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2017, now reaching the pinnacle of GT racing, with the possibility of achieving a dream of competing at Le Mans. Also, Origine Motorsport’s rise starting from its establishment in 2021 in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia continues as the team showed they were competitive and eager to develop throughout their first season in the series. It’s been a pleasure and we’re looking forward to racing in ALMS again next year!”