Porsche is relentless in its quest to sharpen the 911 for track use and trim its lap times. Even the already hardcore GT3 has room for improvement, and not necessarily by stepping up to the RS. With help from Manthey, of which Porsche has held a majority stake since 2013, the track-focused machine sharpens its claws even further without touching the engine.
Revealed a little over a year ago, the facelifted 911 GT3 (992.2) now offers an optional Manthey kit featuring those nifty carbon-fiber aero discs on the rear wheels to reduce drag. They create the illusion of an asymmetrical wheel design, but the forged wheels underneath share the same pattern. The lightweight set included in the package uses 20-inch fronts and 21-inch rears, shedding 13.2 pounds compared to the original set.
At extra cost, the track-ready machine can be fitted with optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R street-legal tires measuring 255/35 ZR20 up front and 315/30 ZR21 at the rear. Manthey also adds braided steel brake lines and a four-way coilover suspension with four-way adjustable struts that don’t require tools to tweak.
Already an aerodynamic monster, the 911 GT3 now clings to the road even more. The massive rear wing is wider and gains a gurney flap, while the enlarged end plates curve inward to improve airflow. Manthey also revised the rear diffuser by extending the vertical fins.
Photo by: Porsche
But there’s more beneath the surface. The underbody has been further optimized to function as a large aero element. The turning vanes stretch about 59 inches, representing an increase of roughly 39 inches. To enable this, Manthey added a cover beneath the cargo-area floor to smooth the underbody of Porsche’s track weapon.
Elsewhere, the front spoiler lip extends nearly half an inch farther than before. The front section of the underbody incorporates new diffuser fins, while front bumper canards round out the aero package. Even in its most road-friendly configuration, the 911 GT3 with the Manthey kit generates 782 pounds of downforce. Dial everything up for a track-only setup, and that figure rises to 1,190 pounds.
Compared to the pre-facelift 911 GT3 equipped with the Manthey kit, the updated version slices 2.76 seconds off its Nürburgring lap time. Reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Güven piloted the car, fitted with the sticky optional tires, to a 6:52.9 lap.
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Source: Porsche
The optional package arrives in the United States next spring and won’t void the car’s factory warranty. More than 40 Manthey-certified Porsche dealers nationwide can perform the conversion. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the kit for the 992.1 model started at $57,300, including labor costs, but excluding the $15,500 forged wheels.
Manthey also offers a kit for the 911 GT3 RS priced at $116,160 and another for the previous-generation 911 GT2 RS at $113,140, with both figures excluding taxes and dealer installation. Obviously, the costs don’t include the car. Yikes.
