New Delhi: Porsche is persistent in their effort to make the 911 sharper for track purposes and trim the lap times. The already quite hardcore GT3 still has room for improvement, and that might not mean stepping up to the RS. With aid from Manthey, of which Porsche has a majority stake since 2013, the track-focused machine sharpened its grip even more without tweaking the engine.
Unveiled more than a year ago, the facelifted 911 GT3 (992.2) now comes with the optional Manthey kit featuring carbon-fibre aero discs on the back wheels to reduce drag. They create an illusion of an asymmetrical wheel design, but the forged wheels share the same configuration. The lightweight set included in the package comes with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch at the back, reducing almost 6 kgs as compared to the original wheels.
Manthey’s newest Porsche 911 GT3 has been improved in many ways
At some premium, the track-ready machine can also be opted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R street-legal tyres that measure 255/35 ZR20 at the front and 315/30 ZR21 at the back. Manthey also comes braided with steel brake lines and a four-way coilover suspension with four-way adjustable struts that don’t require tools in order to be adjusted.
How much has the 911 GT3 improved?
The 911 GT3 also has a better hold on the road with the massive rear wing, which is wider and gains a gurney flap. The enlarged end plates curve inward to improve airflow. Manthey also revised the back diffuser, which was achieved by extending the vertical fins. The underside has been refined to act as a major aerodynamic component.
The turning vanes now measure about 59 inches, which is nearly 39 inches longer than before. To make this possible, Manthey installed an additional panel underneath the cargo-area floor, making a smoother underbody for Porsche’s track-focused machine.
Manthey’s newest Porsche 911 GT3 is aerodynamically upgraded
In other places, the front spoiler lip extends almost half an inch farther than before. The front section of the underbody comes with new diffuser fins, with the front bumper canard rounding out the aero package. Even in a road-friendly setup, the 911 GT3 with the Manthey kit makes 782 pounds of downforce. In the track-only setup, the figure goes up to 1,190 pounds.
Against the pre-facelift 911 GTS coming with the Manthey kit, the new version goes around the Nurburgring 2.76 seconds quicker. The reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Guven was behind the wheel and fitted with the sticky option tyres with the lap time reading 6:52:9 lap.