Porsche 911 GT2 RS sets record lap time at the ’Ring

Nearly five seconds—that is how much faster a Porsche 911 GT2 RS is than any other road-legal production car at the legendary Nordschleife of the Nurburgring as it set a new lap record at the 20.8-kilometer track.

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On June 14, a 911 GT2 RS with Porsche development driver Lars Kern at the wheel recorded a fastest time of 6 minutes 43.3 seconds, beating the previous best lap time for production vehicles by 4.747 seconds. Kern drove the car on road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires at an average speed of 185.87 km/h.

The record-setting, 700-PS 911 GT2 RS was fitted with the Manthey Performance Kit that was developed in close collaboration between Porsche engineers and Manthey’s Nordschleife specialists. The kit is part of the circuit-focused Porsche Tequipment components.

“Our GT customers often use their cars on circuit, such as on track days,” said Frank-Steffen Walliser, Porsche Vice President for Model Lines 911/718. “The engineers at Manthey and Porsche have together developed a perfectly tuned package that allows the 911 GT2 RS to deliver even higher performance.”

Kern broke the Nurburgring record amid blistering summer conditions, with the track temperature reaching 41 degrees Celsius. 

“The 911 GT2 RS sticks to the track like glue with the Manthey Performance Kit. You feel as if you’re in a racing car, especially on faster corners. It is truly breathtaking how the car puts its power down, and how incredibly well it brakes while always remaining easy to control,” Kern said.

The Manthey Performance Kit consists of chassis, aerodynamic and brake components specially developed for the 911 GT2 RS. It also includes the Weissach Package’s light magnesium alloy wheels. 

Instantly recognizable is the aerodynamic kit. Additional flaps on the front spoiler and a carbon underbody increase the downforce in front from 49 kilograms to 70 kilograms when the car is traveling at 200 km/h. A new rear spoiler, a modified diffuser and aero discs on the rear wheels boost downforce on the rear axle from 93 kilograms to 200 kilograms at the same speed. 

Included among the 911 GT2 RS’s equipment is the track-optimized coilover suspension, a product of extensive motorsport experience at Porsche and Manthey. The front shock absorbers can be adjusted to three settings and the rear ones have four settings. Special racing brake pads for the PCCB ceramic brake system reduce fade while improving responsiveness, control and precision. Steel-encased brake lines ensure even more direct pedal feedback. 

The car’s magnesium wheels, measuring 20 inches in front and 21 inches at the rear, reduce unsprung mass by a massive 11.4 kilograms. Available to customers, the wheels can come in Brilliant Silver, Black, Aurum, White Gold Metallic and Platinum.

Also fitted to the 911 GT2 RS is an additional water tank, which is used to spray water to the intercoolers, increasing overall volume for combustion.

The newly developed parts turned an extremely good car even better, making the 911 GT2 RS with Manthey Performance Kit perfectly suited to the needs of customers who take their cars on track—especially the Nurburgring.