Porsche and Manthey Racing are joined at the hip since 2013, the year the German automaker purchased 51 percent of the German racing team. Hugely successful in DTM, the Bathurst 12 Hour, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the Meuspath-based outfit also knows how to improve Porsche's long-running 911.
First spied last year, the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS Manthey Racing has returned to the Green Hell for additional testing. As opposed to the original prototype, this fellow sports a number of upgrades, beginning with lightweight forged alloys mounted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Rs.
The green-painted wheels are joined by green wiring that connects the right upper area of the rear window to the sides of the rear bumper. We can further notice an extremely aggressive diffuser, a humongous rear wing that sports larger end plates than standard, a vertical rear fin that connects the rear window to said wing, and six vortex generators on the roof. Sure looks insane, doesn't it?
Flicks at the sides of the front bumper also need to be mentioned, improving the aerodynamic qualities of the fastest-ever 911 GT3 RS on the Nurburgring. We'll have to wait a bit until Manthey Racing wraps up the go-faster package and Porsche confirms the newcomer's lap time. For reference, a 911 GT3 Manthey Performance Kit lapped the most grueling circuit in the world in 6 minutes and 55 seconds in 2022, making it 4.19 seconds quicker than the 911 GT3 without Manthey Racing's performance pack.
Said kit was developed in collaboration with Porsche's Weissach-based engineers. The kit comprises both aerodynamic improvements and chassis-related components. Think four-way coilover suspension, a set of race-proven brake pads, and stainless steel-braided brake lines.
Photo: SH Proshots
The 911 GT3 RS Weissach Package is quicker still than the 911 GT3 Manthey Performance Kit, with Jorg Bergmeister clocking 6:44.848 in 2022 on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Rs. The quickest-ever Neunelfer, however, is the 991.2-generation 911 GT2 RS Manthey Performance Kit. In the hands of Lars Kern, it required 6 minutes and 38 seconds.
It's not known whether Porsche will make this kit available in summer 2024 or later, but in any case, it will go live this year. Summer 2024 will also see the Zuffenhausen-based automaker debut the 992.2 mid-cycle refresh. Only Manthey Certified Porsche Center locations sell and install Manthey Performance Kits, which are tremendously expensive.
Take, for instance, the aforementioned 992 Porsche 911 GT3 Manthey Performance Kit. In addition to the free-breathing thriller's base price of $182,900 before destination, prospective customers have to shell out $71,651.28 for the aero bits, coilover suspension, and brake line set. The Manthey forged alloys add $19,292.51 to the final price.
That's not all, though! MR can further spruce up the track-oriented sports car with Manthey logos on the doors ($346.01), front and rear towing loops ($283.53 each), as well as decorative wraps for the rear-wheel aero discs ($850.51 per set).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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