Tag Archives: GT3 RS

Manthey Gives the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT the GT3 RS Treatment

The first time Porsche handed its Nürburgring whisperers at Manthey the keys to an EV, the result wasn’t subtle. It was inevitable.

Meet the new Manthey Kit for the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package—a track-focused retrofit that transforms Porsche’s already absurd electric super sedan into something that sounds suspiciously like a GT3 RS with a battery pack. And because this is Manthey we’re talking about, the upgrades aren’t cosmetic theater. They’re stopwatch weapons.

The headline figure says everything you need to know: a 6:55.533 lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That’s not just fast for an EV executive car—it’s violently fast. With Porsche development driver Lars Kern behind the wheel, the Manthey-equipped Taycan shaved more than 12 seconds off the standard Turbo GT Weissach’s previous record and dropped over nine seconds from the category benchmark. On a track where single seconds can consume engineering departments whole, twelve is an eternity.

What’s perhaps most impressive is how the Manthey treatment follows the same philosophy that made the company’s 911 GT kits legendary: grip first, ego second.

The standard Taycan Turbo GT already feels like it’s rewriting physics in real time, but the Manthey car attacks corners with an entirely different level of composure. Aerodynamics are the centerpiece. A new rear wing with larger end plates, revised front diffuser, aggressive rear diffuser fins, underbody air deflectors, and carbon aerodiscs on the rear wheels combine to produce more than triple the downforce of the standard car.

At 124 mph, total downforce jumps from 95 kilograms to 310. Flat out at 193 mph, the car reportedly generates roughly 740 kilograms of aerodynamic load. That’s enough to make the Taycan look less like a supersedan and more like a low-flying prototype racer.

And unlike so many modern aero packages, this one isn’t designed for Instagram parking-lot credibility. Kern says the difference is immediately noticeable through the Nordschleife’s terrifying high-speed sections, particularly under braking and direction changes. Between Lauda-Links and Bergwerk, he carried 14 km/h more speed than during the previous record run. Fourteen. On the Nürburgring, that’s the kind of number that gets your attention very quickly.

Manthey and Porsche didn’t stop with airflow. For the first time, the kit also tweaks the Taycan’s powertrain. Revised software for the high-voltage battery, control unit, and pulse inverters increases discharge current from 1,100 to 1,300 amps, pushing output to 600 kW and bumping Launch Control torque to 1,270 Nm.

Then there’s Attack Mode, which now delivers an extra 130 kW for ten seconds. In practical terms, the Taycan temporarily erupts to 730 kW—roughly 979 horsepower in freedom units. That’s enough thrust to make most hypercars feel like they accidentally left the parking brake engaged.

The chassis upgrades sound equally obsessive. The forged 21-inch Manthey wheels are larger yet lighter than the stock setup, helped by titanium wheel bolts that trim unsprung mass even further. Optional Pirelli P ZERO Trofeo RS tires are significantly wider than standard, while recalibrated Porsche Active Ride suspension, rear steering, and all-wheel-drive systems sharpen turn-in and stability.

Even the brakes got serious attention, with larger discs and upgraded pads engineered to repeatedly arrest nearly 5,000 pounds of electric fury without waving the white flag halfway through a hot lap.

Visually, the Manthey kit avoids the trap of turning the Taycan into a cosplay race car. Yes, there’s exposed carbon fiber everywhere—wheel-arch vents, side skirts, aero extensions, the towering rear wing—but everything appears functional, deliberate, and engineered with the same ruthless logic as the lap time itself.

That may be the most fascinating thing about this Taycan. It represents a philosophical shift for Porsche’s EV future. Until now, electric performance cars have largely relied on brute-force acceleration to impress. The Manthey Taycan proves there’s another path: one built around aerodynamic efficiency, chassis precision, thermal consistency, and repeatable track performance.

In other words, it’s behaving exactly like a Porsche.

And maybe that’s the real breakthrough here. The Manthey kit doesn’t simply make the Taycan Turbo GT faster. It gives Porsche’s electric flagship something far more valuable in enthusiast circles: credibility earned one terrifyingly quick lap at a time.

Source: Porsche

Dua Lipa’s Custom Porsche 911 GT3 RS Heads to Auction for Charity

Three-time Grammy Award winner Dua Lipa may be conquering the global music stage with her Radical Optimism world tour, but her passion isn’t confined to soundtracks and stadiums. Like many automotive enthusiasts, she’s been indulging in the digital thrill of supercar configurators — and now, that virtual hobby has translated into a very real, very special car.

Meet the Rennstall Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Dua Lipa’s custom-built dream machine, heading to auction via RM Sotheby’s. “Rennstall,” which means “racing team” in German, might sound like a prelude to a motorsport debut, but Lipa isn’t gearing up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans — at least, not yet. Instead, this striking, track-focused Porsche is destined for the auction block, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting her Sunny Hill Foundation, which supports youth, art, and culture in her native Kosovo.

Unveiled at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, the car reflects Lipa’s signature boldness and flair. RM Sotheby’s describes the car’s vivid, retro-themed colorway as “a perfect reflection of the liveliness that characterizes Dua Lipa’s stage design and performances.” And they’re not wrong. With a bespoke configuration and meticulous attention to detail, this GT3 RS is as performance-focused as it is artistic.

Underneath the eye-catching exterior lies Porsche’s finest performance tech. The Rennstall GT3 RS is equipped with the Weissach Package, offering extensive weight reduction through carbon-fiber panels and suspension upgrades. It rolls on lightweight magnesium wheels, stops with carbon-ceramic brakes, and features a Guards Red Sport Chrono package, matching the red tachometer and stopwatch inside. It’s a true enthusiast’s car, with every box ticked — and the aesthetic to match.

While not destined for Dua’s personal garage, the car was recently seen in action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where she rode shotgun with Karen Gaillard of the all-female Iron Dames racing team. The car has covered just over 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles), and now the question remains: what price will it fetch at auction?

Given its unique spec, celebrity provenance, and charitable cause, it wouldn’t be surprising if this Rennstall GT3 RS becomes one of the most coveted 911s to hit the block in recent memory. For collectors and Porsche purists alike, it represents a rare intersection of performance, personality, and purpose.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 PTS Costs Almost $3 Million

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is often held in reverence by purists and collectors alike—a car many consider the peak of analog 911 perfection. Released in 2011 as the swan song of the 997.2 generation, it marked several historic milestones: the first 911 GT3 RS to be powered by a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, and the last to feature a six-speed manual gearbox. Limited to just 600 units globally, its rarity and motorsport pedigree have made it a highly sought-after gem. But does that justify a price tag nearing $2.7 million? That’s a harder sell.

Earlier this year, a well-kept example of the GT3 RS 4.0 fetched €471,875 (approximately $554,000) at a Paris auction, despite showing 10,094 km (6,272 miles) on the odometer. Not long after, another car—this one with just 319 miles (513 km) on the clock—changed hands in the U.S. for a staggering $1,001,917.

Now, a near-pristine specimen with only 341 miles (549 km) is listed for a jaw-dropping $2,699,996 at Graham Rahal Performance in Zionsville, Indiana. The eye-watering price is more than double that of the previous million-dollar sale. So, what makes this particular example so special?

For starters, it’s one of just 39 GT3 RS 4.0s finished in a Paint-to-Sample (PTS) color. Rather than the more common white livery, this one sports a sleek GT Silver finish. Although it’s not the most flamboyant hue from Porsche’s custom palette, it pairs beautifully with the car’s signature black graphics and red accents. Black and red side mirrors complement the look, while black center-lock wheels shroud golden brake calipers, completing the exterior package with understated aggression.

Inside, the car continues its color-matched theme with black leather and Alcantara upholstery, red seatbelts, and red door pulls. A numbered plaque on the dashboard confirms its exclusivity—number 318 of the 600 made.

Originally priced at $216,210 (equivalent to roughly $308,990 today), this GT3 RS 4.0 has potentially tripled or even quadrupled in value over the past 14 years. That’s an impressive return by any standard, although the near $2.7 million asking price might stretch even the most passionate collector’s imagination.

Still, there’s no denying the legacy and desirability of the GT3 RS 4.0. With its motorsport-derived engine, analog driving experience, and limited production run, it’s a poster child for everything enthusiasts love about the 911 lineage. Whether it’s worth a hypercar price tag is up for debate—but if any Porsche 911 can make that case, it’s this one.

Source: Graham Rahal Performance

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