Why the 911 GT3 RS is the ultimate expression in Track Performance No matter what your niche is in the automotive world, there’s always a Porsche 911 to suit your needs. Want to humiliate McLarens in a drag race yet still destroy a B–road in any weather? Buy a Turbo. Want to blast across woodlands and desserts? Get a Dakar. And if you want to humiliate Ferraris at a track, you need only two words: GT3 RS. For the last 20 years, the GT3 RS has been the ultimate track weapon. You may lust after a limited edition Ferrari, the latest LT McLaren, and whatever crazed name lightweight Lambo. But if you’re a serious driver, keen on smashing lap records, the little 911 always ran rings around these more expensive, delicate thoroughbreds. This is especially true of the latest iteration, the 992, which takes the word track car to new peaks. Alongside its bespoke carbon fiber body, magnesium wheels, bucket seats, and aluminum roll cage, this new RS features the latest in track-tech weaponry. The front of the car features a larger radiator than a GT3 for more air intake. There are fans under the bonnet to direct this air over the car creating more downforce. There are even bigger slats on the side to ensure the RS is glued to the road. The biggest change though on this particular variant is the enormous rear wing. Unlike previous RS models, which are static, this one is active. Under hard braking, it will deploy a mini air brake to stop more effectively. And just like an F1 car, it’s fitted with DRS to reduce drag when powering down a straight. The result of all this tech became clear on the 5th of October, 2022 at the Nürburgring. At the hands of Jörg Bergmeister, the 992 GT3 RS set a mind-boggling 6:44.848, making it the fourth fastest road-legal production car around the ring. Yet as always is the case, Porsche believes that with a few tweaks, it can do better. Who is Manthey Racing: What upgrades do they bring to the GT3 RS? Manthey Racing is a renowned motorsport and tuning company started by former racing driver Olaf Manthey. The company mostly specializes in tuning race-derived Porsche GT3 Cup cars for races such as LeMans and the Porsche Supercup. However, they also enhance Porsche road cars for track dominance, particularly at the Nürburgring. As we can see from the spy shots, MR has made significant upgrades to the GT3 RS. These include:· A massive rear wing now fitted with square end plates.· A new central dorsal fin to cut through air more effectively.· Rear aero wheel covers to improve stability at high speeds.· Even lighter magnesium forged wheels to reduce weight even further.· Adjustable coilovers and chassis upgrades to ensure this already grippy car is even more glued to the road. How does this affect the Nürburgring Lap Record? Manthey Racing believes that with these upgrades, the GT3 RS can smash its record by an additional eight seconds. That would potentially make it the second fastest car around “the Green Hell”. The only road car faster is that F1-derived road racer, the AMG One. And it’s not as if this goal isn’t achievable. On the 14th of July 2021, a Manthey Racing tweaked 991 GT2 RS set the then-fastest lap record at the Nürburgring with a time of 6:38.835. Considering the standard GT2 RS is already fairly rapid, with a time of 6:47.25, to shave off 8 seconds speaks volumes for Manthey’s dedication to improving track performance. The Fastest 911 or is it? For the last decade, Porsche has had an obsession with the Nürburgring. Five of its official production road cars have set a sub-7-minute lap record at the Green Hell. And judging by spy shots of the recent GT3, GT3 RS, and GT2 RS variants of the new 992.2, it’s clear this obsession won’t die any time soon. Manthey Racing’s tweaked GT3 RS is just a further testament to Porsche’s obsession with breaking records at the “Green Hell”. Undoubtedly it will improve the GT3 RS’ record but by how much is yet to be seen. All we can theorize is that maybe, one day, the AMG One’s current crown will be knocked off its head. Source: CarSpyMedia
