The fastest production car round the ‘Ring is now a GT2 RS with the Manthey Performance Kit.
Porsche once again reigns supreme at the ‘Ring, as a souped-up 911 GT2 RS has recently set a new lap record round the famous German track for road-approved production cars. Coming in hot with a blistering time of 6:43.300 minutes around the full 20.8 km circuit, it was more than enough to usurp the previous record-holding Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series by a staggering 4.747 seconds.
Achieved earlier this month on the 14th of June with an average speed round the ring of 185.87 km/h, it was Porsche development driver Lars Kern that was the man behind the wheel of the GT2 RS in this record setting run. Though it is worth highlighting at this point that it just wasn’t any old GT2 RS, as this record-breaking 911 did come fully equipped with the newly-developed Manthey Performance Kit.
A collaborative project between Porsche’s engineers in Weissach and Manthey’s Nordschleife specialists in Meuspath, this custom performance package developed specifically for the GT2 RS consists of chassis, aerodynamic and brake upgrades that apparently enables this ultimate road-going 911 to ‘deliver even higher performance’. What more too is that the entire circuit-focused kit of Porsche Tequipment components is currently on sale through the Porsche Centres in Europe, thereby making it a factory-fit accessory that is amazingly backed by the factory warranty.
Delving deeper into what the Manthey Performance Kit adds to the stock GT2 RS, there are now additional flaps featured on the front spoiler and air guide elements on the front wings. Add to that a new rear spoiler, a modified diffuser as well as new aerodiscs on the rear wheels, and all this will equate to an additional 21 kg of downforce up front and 107 kg of downforce round the rear at 200 km/h as compared to the standard car.
Moving on under the skin meanwhile, the Manthey Performance GT2 RS also gains a track-optimised adjustable coilover suspension setup and special racing pads (connected by steel brake lines for better braking feel) clamping onto the PCCB carbon ceramic brakes all round. All of which are hidden behind a set of lightweight staggered magnesium alloy wheels — that incidentally shave 11.4 kg off its stock kerb weight — and come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres.
New too with this package is an additional water tank for the spray-cooling of its intercoolers, but interestingly the overall powertrain package of the 911 GT2 RS remains untouched with this Manthey Performance Kit. With 700 PS and 750 Nm of torque on tap from its stock twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six however, this rear wheel drive Porsche probably wasn’t really lacking in the performance department anyway.
Now neatly sliding into further discussion regarding the record run itself, it would appear that Porsche is on a roll at the ‘Ring recently. Particularly considering that the German automaker has also recently smashed the lap record in the production SUV category, with its souped-up Cayenne Coupe setting a time of 7:38.925 minutes.
It nevertheless remains to be seen though as to how long this 6:43.300 minutes record will stand. No doubt that the people at the three-pointed star marque are already putting plans into motion to reclaim what it has recently lost, not to mention a host of other automakers who wouldn’t mind the honour of clinching that title away from Porsche too.
PRESS RELEASE: Porsche has set a new lap record for road-approved production cars on the 20.8-kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife in a 911 GT2 RS fitted with the Manthey Performance Kit.
The best time of 6:43.300 minutes was achieved on 14 June, in the presence of a notary, with Porsche development driver Lars Kern at the wheel of the 515 kW (700 PS) 911 GT2 RS. The new Performance Kit was developed as part of a close collaboration between Porsche’s engineers in Weissach and Manthey’s Nordschleife specialists in Meuspath. The circuit-focused Porsche Tequipment components are sold via Porsche Centres.
Previous record for production vehicles beaten by 4.747 seconds
The plan was to beat the existing 6:48.047 road-car record. Kern achieved this with flying colours at the wheel of the 911 GT2 RS, beating the previous time by 4.747 seconds on road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, at an average speed of 185.87 km/h.
“Our GT customers often use their cars on circuit, such as on track days,” says Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Model Lines 911/718. “The engineers at Manthey and Porsche have together developed a perfectly tuned package that allows the 911 GT2 RS to deliver even higher performance.” Lars Kern broke the record despite high-summer conditions and a track temperature of 41 degrees. “The 911 GT2 RS sticks to the track like glue with the Manthey Performance Kit – you feel as if you’re in a racing car, especially on faster corners. It is truly breathtaking how the car puts its 700 PS down, and how incredibly well it brakes while always remaining easy to control,” says Kern.
The Manthey Performance Kit from Porsche Tequipment consists of chassis, aerodynamic and brake components specially developed for the 911 GT2 RS. It also includes the Weissach Package’s light magnesium alloy wheels. “The individual components of the Performance Kit are precisely matched to one another. They only become fully effective when they are all installed together. As a result, the kit is only available at the moment as a whole package. Individual offerings are currently being evaluated,” says Alexander Fabig, Vice President Individualisation and Classic at Porsche AG.
The aerodynamic components are the first things you notice. Additional flaps on the front spoiler increase downforce on the front axle in combination with a carbon underbody and additional air guide elements in the area of the front wheels. Downforce increases from 49 to 70 kilograms at 200 km/h, and on the rear axle from 93 to 200 kg at the same speed. This is made possible thanks to a new rear spoiler, a modified diffuser and aerodiscs on the rear wheels. “We are proud that Lars Kern was able to improve the lap time of the 911 GT2 RS in this way thanks to the Performance Kit, developed together with Porsche and optimised in many areas,” says Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey-Racing GmbH.
Many years of motorsport experience at Porsche and Manthey
The track-optimised coilover suspension benefits from the many years of motorsport experience at Porsche and Manthey. The front shock absorbers can be adjusted to three different settings and there are four settings on those at the rear. Special racing brake pads for the PCCB ceramic brake system reduce fade, while improving responsiveness and control precision. Steel-encased brake lines ensure even more direct pedal feedback. The magnesium wheels, 20-inch diameter at the front and 21-inches at the rear, offer an 11.4 kg weight saving and are available in Brilliant Silver, Black, Aurum, White Gold Metallic and Platinum.
An additional water tank for spray-cooling of the intercoolers increases overall volume by approximately nine litres, thereby increasing the time between refills. “With these newly developed parts, we have made an extremely good car even better. The 911 GT2 RS with Manthey Performance Kit is perfectly tailored to the needs of those customers who like to take their cars on track, especially the Nürburgring Nordschleife. This 6:43.300 time for the whole lap is equivalent to 6:38.835 for the old shorter variant, so makes a real statement,” explains Andreas Preuninger, Vice President GT Cars.
