Porsche Manthey Performance Kit

Porsche Works Team “Manthey”

What would you think if someone said that the 992 I-type 911 GT3 is “as easy to handle as a Carrera”? However, after actually driving a 911 GT3 equipped with the Manthey Performance Kit and a standard 911 GT3, the standard GT3 felt like a kitten.

GENROQ readers probably don’t need an explanation, but let’s talk a little about Manthey. Manthey Racing GmbH is a racing team founded in 1996 by Olaf Manthey, a driver who was active in the German racing scene in the 1980s. Recognized for its achievements at the Nürburgring and Le Mans, it has now become a well-established works team, with Porsche owning a 51% stake.

The performance kit introduced here was developed by Manthey Racing and delivered by its production car division, Manthey Motors. Naturally, it will be released as an officially approved Porsche street-legal part, and in Japan it can only be sold by dealers who have received direct training from Manthey engineers.

[Suspension Kit] A screw-type vehicle height adjustment kit equipped with a damper system that allows for separate adjustment of bump/rebound damping force in four stages at high/low speeds. — [1]

[Brake line] Brake lines with steel sleeves are used to improve braking response and achieve a precise touch. — [1]

The first thing that strikes you when driving a 911 GT3 equipped with a Manthey kit is how comfortable it is. The road surface at the Porsche Experience Center Tokyo, where the car was set up, is certainly flat, but from the moment you start driving, you can feel the suspension gripping the road smoothly. Step on the accelerator and the Pilot Sport CUP2’s grip rises linearly. It also handles undulations well within its short stroke. The only time it felt stiff was on the successive bumps on the Carousel, but the overall balance was excellent. Incidentally, the ride height, alignment, damper damping force, wing angle of attack, etc. were determined by Manthey’s staff after driving around the PEC Tokyo, and the result was a setting that was almost identical to that at the Nürburgring.

To optimize downforce, the aerodynamic performance has been further refined from the standard GT3. As a result, it is not possible to purchase the aero parts individually. All other parts can be purchased separately.

Suspension settings to improve aerodynamic characteristics

A new option has been added to Porsche's genuine options: the Manthey Performance Kit. Manthey is a racing team with a brilliant track record in the motorsports scene, including WEC, DTM, and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. So, how does it perform? — Precision, stability, and transitions in behavior: the Manthey GT3 excels in all areas.

The suspension system, which creates a smooth ride, first features extremely plush dampers, employing a 4-way type that allows high/low speed damping force adjustment on both the rebound and compression sides. What’s interesting is the springs that are paired with it; the front is 10% stiffer while the rear is about 7% softer. This is likely a figure derived from the balance with the improved aerodynamic performance (high downforce and rear steer control ensure stability in high-speed corners, while the rear rigidity is reduced in low-speed corners to increase traction), but in any case, this choice of rear springs also seems to play a role in the comfortable ride.

The vehicle height is adjusted using only the spring seat, a so-called “screw type,” but the reason why Manthey did not use a full-length adjustment system that allows separate adjustment of preload and case length is likely because they felt that strength was necessary to ensure safety when riding on public roads. I believe this kit probably meets TÜV standards.

My only complaint about this suspension kit is that you can’t adjust the damping force from inside the car like you can with the RS. Jacking up the GT3 on the track and crawling underneath it, or removing the center-lock wheels, is a pain. So if you’re serious about racing, you’ll need a mechanic on-site.

[Front lip spoiler] The larger front lip spoiler, combined with the flap and air guide, increases front downforce by approximately 30%. — [1]

[Canards] The flaps that optimize front downforce have rounded corners designed for driving on public roads. — [1]

The difference is clear when you compare the two

Similarly, Mantai has given the brake pads a temperature range that allows them to be used on public roads, and there was no jerking whatsoever when rolling around the venue. Furthermore, the brake lines have been changed to steel layer, which improves pedal response. The icing on the cake are the BBS wheels, which have been increased in size to 9.5J x 20 in the front and 12J x 21 in the rear, yet are 7.3kg lighter than the stock. While the design is basically the same as the GT3, the front and sides of the spokes have been significantly hollowed out. Furthermore, the rear wheel, where heat dissipation is not as important as the front, is fitted with a carbon aero disc to improve aerodynamic performance.

The aerodynamic devices include a small flap (canard) attached to the front bumper, a larger front lip, and underneath, a carbon fin has been added to the outermost part to direct airflow to the side of the car.

The rear of the car featured an adjustable swan-neck wing made from a larger single-layer wing. The floor also featured a diffuser that had been redesigned from the ground up, with all six fins made from carbon fiber. To be honest, the effect of downforce isn’t as clear on the low-speed PEC Tokyo course. However, compared to a standard 911 GT3, the difference was clear. The Manthey GT3 allowed me to turn the steering wheel exactly as intended through the series of S-shaped corners in the first half. In contrast, turning in the standard GT3 with the same feeling required anticipating a large amount of roll. The braking precision and transitions in behavior were all superior to the Manthey GT3, and after experiencing its cornering speeds, the standard GT3 even felt incredibly easy to handle.

And at the most thrilling blind final corner, I was even impressed by the stability of the rear. I wasn’t able to test it out myself, but an instructor who is familiar with the course said that the Manthey GT3’s rear slides very little and slides very gently. This is the effect of increased downforce.

There's nothing to complain about with the standard GT3 when driven alone, but compared to the Manthey GT3, you need to expect a lot of roll when turning around in S-curves. The tail slide is also a bit abrupt. — There’s nothing to complain about with the standard GT3 when driven alone, but compared to the Manthey GT3, you need to expect a lot of roll when turning around in S-curves. The tail slide is also a bit abrupt.

So, the interesting question is how close a GT3 equipped with this kit will be to the RS. If you add the total price of 8,959,500 yen to the GT3, the total will exceed that of the RS. Unfortunately, it is impossible to make that judgment at this point. However, one thing is certain: GT3 owners who install this kit will be extremely satisfied, not only in terms of performance but also in terms of status. Furthermore, a Manthey kit is also available for the GT3 RS. How far should you go, and where should you compromise? This has always been a difficult question for Porsche.

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[1: Towing hook] Towing lugs for circuit racing are provided on the front and rear. The base features the Manthey logo as a unique accent. [2: Decals] The decal set features the Manthey logo and name and is available in two colors: white and black. [3: Door projectors] At night, you can enjoy your status with the Manthey logo door projectors. [4: Door sill trim] The carbon fiber door sill guards with the Manthey logo are illuminated and light up when the door is opened.

Currently, the Manthey Performance Kits sold in Japan are for the 911 GT3/GT3 Touring Package (Type 992) as well as the 718 Cayman GT4/GT4 RS (Type 982).

Porsche Experience Center (PEC) Tokyo

This comparative test drive took place at the Porsche Experience Center Tokyo in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture. The approximately 2.1km course allows visitors to test drive a variety of the latest Porsche vehicles, and this comparative test drive was officially offered as a “911 GT3 Manthey vs. 911 GT3.” With one-on-one instruction from a coach, visitors were able to test drive both cars for a total of 90 minutes. The cost was 189,000 yen (at the time of the interview). For reservations and further details, please visit the website below.