Manthey Magic at the Ring
The Porsche 911 GT3 RS set one of the quickest production-car lap times ever recorded around the Nürburgring in Germany with the Manthey Kit, delivering yet another strong performance from the German tuner. With Jorg Bergmeister behind the wheel, the car recorded a 6:45.389 lap – about four seconds quicker than the 911 GT3 RS without the kit.
In a press release, Manthey said the car was fitted with its performance kit and optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. The package further enhanced the model’s already substantial downforce capability – highlighted by its massive DRS-style wing – without increasing drag. As a result, the modified car was said to deliver performance comparable to that of a race car on slicks. The high-performance brakes also allowed the driver to brake later while maintaining consistent friction across a wide temperature range.
In addition, a semi-active suspension, used for the first time, helped the car work through the bumps and corners around the 20.832-km (12.9-mile) track.
A Masterclass in Balance
The latest run still fell short of the 991.2-generation 911 GT2 RS with the Manthey Performance Kit, which posted a 6:43.300 in 2021. But that car had 700 horsepower from a twin-turbo flat-six, while the 911 GT3 RS relies on a naturally aspirated engine producing 525 hp.
That gap suggests outright power is not everything around the Nürburgring, especially since this latest lap was still roughly three seconds quicker than both the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the latter producing 1,250 horsepower from a twin-turbo hybrid V8 engine.
For reference, the record for production, street-legal cars is still held by the Mercedes-AMG One, which uses a Formula 1–derived engine and set a 6:29.090 lap. It is followed by the Ford Mustang GTD Competition at 6:40.835, making it the fastest American car at the Ring.
The Business of Going Faster
Bergmeister, a Porsche brand ambassador who also drove the stock 911 GT3 RS around the Green Hell in 2022, expressed satisfaction with the lap, noting that both the car and the weather cooperated. “It’s truly amazing how much you can achieve with the Manthey kit, especially on the fast and medium-speed sections of the track.”
That level of track-focused upgrade, however, does not come cheap. The Manthey Kit is priced at about $116,000 before taxes and installation, and thanks to the latest lap, it proves the package delivers beyond the spec sheet.
