How Richard Lietz went from worrying about retirement to winning Le Mans
After fearing his career might be over at the start of the 2024 campaign, Porsche factory stalwart Richard Lietz bounced back to claim successive class wins at Le Mans
Podium LMGT3: Race winner #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, Richard Lietz
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Richard Lietz driving a GT Porsche in the Le Mans 24 Hours has become a real fixture of the race over the past two decades but, prior to picking up a second LMGT3 class win in succession last weekend, the Austrian had feared his racing days were over.
With the introduction of the new LMGT3 class in the World Endurance Championship, Lietz felt there could be a changing of the guard in 2024. He had just turned 40 and, despite already having four class wins at Le Mans under his belt, was convinced he would not be adding to his impressive record around the Circuit de la Sarthe.
"Well, to be honest, last year was a crazy one because I was basically ready to stop driving," Lietz told Motorsport.com. "And then, Manthey mechanics actually called me and asked me if I wanted to drive for them.
"I was like, 'What do you mean? In WEC?' And then another mechanic called me and another mechanic and an engineer, and then the bosses called me. At one point I was like, 'OK, maybe they are serious'."
They were indeed serious and Lietz was able to register a fifth Le Mans triumph in a Manthey Porsche 911 GT3-R alongside Morris Schuring and Yasser Shahin.
#92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, Richard Lietz
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Yet his victory 12 months later alongside Riccardo Pera and Ryan Hardwick was even more dominant, especially once the WRT BMW M4 GT3 of Kelvin van der Linde, Ahmad Al Harthy and Valentino Rossi retired with electronic woes.
"If you get really surprised it's like a Christmas present, now we achieved what we wanted," Lietz said when comparing the two wins. "This year was a bit more prepared from last year. Having my first back-to-back wins at Le Mans is something special and a really nice feeling."
Lietz said the impressive consistency of Hardwick and the Porsche being kinder on its tyres were key factors in this latest success.
"I think it was the stint performance we could do with the tyres over three stints," he explained. "We had not so much drop and I think the higher temperature helped us a bit achieving this in a better way than the other cars.
"Ryan did fantastic, not so many yellows, no safety car - like it was in the past, a Le Mans spirit endurance race!"
But even after taking his Le Mans class win tally to six victories from 19 starts, and now leading the WEC LMGT3 points table, Lietz admitted he is once again unsure what the future holds.
"To be honest my contract ends, I'm 41 years old and there's a lot of young people out there who want my job," he said. "It depends on Porsche – it's not my decision if I'm here next year.
"If I'm not driving, I will be here as a spectator, or bringing the drink bottle to some driver, or being a part of a team because Le Mans is a nice place, it's like coming home."
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