Porsche has announced that it will have an expanded presence in the DTM in 2025, with Allied Racing joining incumbent Manthey.
The German squad, which has past experience of competing in GT Masters and GT World Challenge Europe, will field a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 Rs in the DTM for Ricardo Feller and 21-year-old Bastian Buus.
The announcement coincides with the news that Feller will join Porsche’s stable as a contracted driver, which is one grade below official factory status in the manufacturer’s roster.
The Swiss driver makes the switch to Porsche after serving as a factory driver for Audi from 2022-24. Although the Ingolstadt-based marque had disbanded its works driver pool at the end of 2023, he was able to maintain a direct relationship with the manufacturer as he had a valid contract for this year.
Feller is no stranger to the DTM, having racked up three seasons in the category with Abt Sportsline, scoring two victories and seven podiums during that period.
At Allied Racing, he will be paired with 2023 Porsche Supercup champion Buus, who graduates to the DTM after completing a part-time programme in GT World Challenge and contesting big enduros including the Nurburgring 24 Hours and the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Porsche has also announced that 2023 DTM champion and factory driver Thomas Preining will remain in the DTM for a fourth campaign next year.
No mention was made of the team he will take part in the 2025 DTM season with, but it’s likely to be his current squad Manthey.
Porsche said in its statement that ‘Manthey is working towards continuing its involvement in the DTM in the 2025 season’ without offering any more information.
It is likely that Ayhancan Guven, who retains his status as a ‘contracted driver’, will get another season in the DTM with Porsche.
This means Porsche could be represented by as many as four cars in the DTM in 2025.
This year, Preining finished a strong fifth in the drivers’ standings with a sole victory at the Lausitzring, while Guven had a much more difficult campaign in the other Manthey EMA entry, ending up 16th in the championship with a best finish of third at Hockenheim.
With their combined results, Manthey was classified sixth in the teams’ table, while Porsche was ranked fifth among the seven manufacturers.
