This week Porsche raised its ownership of Manthey to 67% , deepening the partnership with the racing specialist while the firm marks thirty years of enhancing Stuttgart-built sports cars for the circuit. To commemorate the anniversary, Manthey is introducing two special-edition competition cars that showcase its technical know-how.
Two Limited-Edition Race Cars Unveiled
The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30 and the 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 were presented at the DTM championship finale in Hockenheim. Rather than mere commemorative models adorned with elaborate badges, Manthey asserts that each vehicle was engineered for genuine competition, drawing on insights from customer-racing programmes and many years of development in aerodynamics, thermal management, chassis tuning and mass-saving measures. Put simply, they are intended primarily as race-ready machines, not just as collectibles.
The 718 holds a distinctive role in the Porsche-Manthey collaboration because it caps a ten-year period of Cayman-based racing development. It effectively serves as a final chapter, since production of the street-legal Cayman has ceased and Zuffenhausen confirmed earlier this week that no further internal-combustion Cayman will be built. Consequently, this model represents the last ICE version of the car within the partnership’s history.
Light Is Right: The Manthey Way
The farewell machine is powered by a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six that delivers 493 hp. A wide application of carbon-fiber panels together with a custom wheel package reduces the vehicle’s mass by roughly 12.5 lb compared with the standard version. Manthey has re-styled numerous exterior elements, such as the fenders, bonnet, front splitter, front bumper, rear bumper, rear deck lid and rear wing.
These body alterations are not solely for visual aggression. Additional front flics and a carbon-fiber diffuser increase downforce, while a centrally-mounted radiator and refined brake-cooling ducts help the car endure the rigours of endurance events. To celebrate the anniversary, the Cayman receives unique graphics, a numbered plaque and embroidered headrest logos. Its white-and-red paint scheme honours Manthey’s corporate colours and racing legacy, while offering a contemporary interpretation of the team’s signature aesthetic.
Manthey Bumps The 911 GT3 Cup’s Engine Displacement
The more potent of the two commemorative models is based on the 992.1-generation 911 GT3 Cup, yet Manthey has done more than simply attach aerodynamic parts. The car now houses a water-cooled 4.2-liter flat-six that generates 552 hp, an increase in displacement over the standard Cup’s 4.0-liter unit, with power delivered to the rear wheels via a sequential six-speed gearbox.
Manthey also revamped the aerodynamic and cooling architecture, leveraging knowledge gathered from customer racing at the Nürburgring. The shell incorporates a large amount of recycled carbon-fiber, including front splitters, bonnet, rear body sections, wheel-arch extensions and rear wing. A centrally-located radiator improves airflow and lessens the chance of damage in contact, while enlarged brake-cooling inlets keep temperatures under control during intensive sessions.
Further enhancements feature a six-position adjustable coil-over suspension, re-tuned front and rear geometry and widened track widths. The front track is broadened by 0.8 in (20 mm) and the rear by nearly 2 in (50 mm). Lightweight forged wheels shave an additional 8.3 lb (3.8 kg) from the car, and exclusive anniversary touches inside and out set the 911 apart from the standard Cup MR.
Production Caps Each Model At 15 Units
Manthey will limit each special edition to just 15 units, rendering the cars exceptionally scarce even within motorsport circles. Orders will be accepted until 30 October, after which the firm will allocate the constrained production run. Deliveries of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30 are slated to start in November, while the 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 is expected to reach customers in the first quarter of the following year.
