The 911 GT3 is already a serious racing vehicle, but there is still more time to be found on the racetrack, especially at the Ring. Porsche and Manthey Racing have set out to do this with the new Manthey kit for the 992.2 GT3, unveiled earlier this week. In a video released this weekend, Porsche showed the improved GT3 attacking the Nürburgring Nordschleife, achieving a time of 6 minutes and 52.981 seconds, 2.76 seconds faster than the previous generation Manthey-equipped GT3. The lap was driven on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, with reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Güven at the wheel.
Manthey Racing, based in Meuspath near the Ring, operates at the heart of European endurance racing. Porsche has held a majority stake in the company since 2013, making the collaboration more integrated than anything else in the aftermarket. Manthey has claimed multiple victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Porsche GT machinery and that experience flows direct in the development of road vehicles.
The standard facelifted 992.2 GT3 was launched in October last year and has already improved aero efficiency, thermal cooling and chassis refinement, while retaining the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine (no T-Hybrid here). The Manthey kit takes that foundation and scales it up significantly, with a more serious aero package. Even in street configuration, the improved 911 GT3 now produces 782 pounds of downforce at 177 mph. However, switch to Circuit mode and downforce increases to 1,190 pounds. The difference in high speed behavior is not subtle.
Much of this gain is due to radical work on the underbody, as Manthey lengthened the vanes to about 59 inches, added a full cover under the front luggage compartment, and installed new diffuser fins and canards. Up top, the widened rear wing gets enlarged end plates that curve inward for cleaner airflow, as well as a Gurney flap to stabilize rear balance. The rear diffuser uses longer slats, while the rear carbon aero panels reduce turbulence and create the optical illusion of asymmetry. The forged wheels underneath have the same design, but lose 13.2 pounds of unsprung mass compared to standard equipment.
Suspension tuning is important with four-way adjustable coilovers included as standard in the kit, allowing you to change rebound and compression without tools. The spring rates are now increased by 10 percent at the front to accommodate the air load. Braided steel brake lines are standard and PCCB-specific racing pads are optional.
There’s no word on pricing yet, but the previous generation 992.1 Manthey kit started at $57,300, including installation. The new package will be available at more than 40 Manthey-certified Porsche centers nationwide and does not void the factory warranty. For more details on the GT3 992.2 Manthey, check out our exclusive feature on the “Fifth Icons of Porsche,” currently taking place in Dubai.
Images: Porsche, Khris Bharath
