Manthey’s 911 GT3 RS kit is now available in the US, costs more than a Cayman GTS

Manthey Performance has announced its kit to enhance the already supernaturally enhanced Porsche 911 GT3 RS is now available to order in the US. Which means for $116,160, you can lap your chosen circuit of choice faster than ‘regular’ GT3 RS owners.

Or… y’know, you could keep pace with those ‘regular’ GT3 RS owners, and obtain an entire new 4.0-litre Cayman GTS ($99,700). Or nearly another entirely new base 911 Carrera ($120,100). Which we understand is a facetious argument, because GT3 RS owners won't be making these comparisons at all.

They'll be ripping past you on your hapless tourist day on the Nürburgring in a blur of carbon fibre and flat-six noise before coming in to analyse lap data. And the installation of the Manthey Kit means there’ll be a heck of a lot of data to digest. As you should know by now, Manthey's GT3 RS kit adds ‘extensive’ aerodynamic mods to make it enormously sticky on track.

That includes a larger, carbon fibre-reinforced front lip, revised Gurney flaps for the front arches and dual dive planes for better front axle downforce. The rear window is ceremoniously tossed into the bin (trash), and in its place comes a carbon fibre panel that’s 25 per cent lighter. A shark fin happens. More roof fins follow. A massive rear diffuser is bolted on.

And then comes the enormous split DRS rear wing and bigger wing-end plates. All in, Manthey’s mods add 20 per cent more downforce over what Porsche managed “with no additional drag”, while at 177mph, this supernaturally enhanced GT3 RS makes 2,200lbs (basically a tonne) of downforce. “This allows the driver to carry more speed while turning,” says Porsche.

The suspension has been tweaked to cope, too – the spring rates are new, the dampers get new valves, and there’s a new control unit to adjust it all. The brakes get braided steel lines because they give better feedback. Ready your left foot. And your wallet.

Though, for three grand less, you can enhance your old 911 GT2 RS (the 991 car, pictured below), because Manthey’s kit for that starts at $113,140. Much like the GT3, the GT2 mods centre around aero: front spoiler flaps, a carbon underbody, new front wheel air guides, a new rear spoiler and modified diffuser, and aerodiscs on the rear wheels.

The adjustable dampers can be set three ways on the front, and four on the back. Magnesium wheels are lighter, and there’s an extra water tank to spray the intercoolers. Serious stuff.

And that, really, is the most important thing. The Manthey kits are Serious Modifications for Very Serious Performance Cars; ones that scoff at flippant comparisons with lesser, 4.0-litre Cayman GTSs or base 911 Carreras.