You in all probability assume the final word Porsche Cayman is the GT4 RS, the 911 GT3-powered maniac with 493 horsepower that revs to 9,000 rpm and transforms the Cayman right into a monitor beast. However there’s one other degree of GT4 RS, the Manthey. It sacrifices any on-road consolation the GT4 RS could have had in pursuit of lap occasions.
Manthey Racing isn’t fairly a family identify. The German race group, based within the late Nineteen Nineties, runs Porsche Motorsport’s GT groups and does so efficiently. In 2013, Porsche purchased a controlling curiosity in Manthey, and since 2021 it’s been creating aggressive efficiency kits for Porsche’s sports activities vehicles. They’re obtainable by licensed Porsche sellers with the only intention of accelerating monitor functionality.
DW Burnett / Motor1
The GT4 RS units a powerful baseline. Porsche has been intentional about making certain the Cayman can’t beat the 911—the GT4 RS comes closest. With the gas-powered Cayman reaching the top of the road, Porsche’s GT Division went HAM on the Cayman to create the GT4 RS, even changing the rear quarter home windows with intakes to cram sufficient air to the 911’s flat-six. In comparison with the common GT4, the RS has a completely new drivetrain, a stiffer physique construction, larger brakes, and closely revised cooling. It’s primarily a wholly new automotive.
Manthey leaves the powertrain alone and focuses on making the RS sharper within the corners and extra secure underneath braking. These are all fine-detail adjustments. The GT4 RS Manthey will get retuned aerodynamics for elevated downforce—full with an even bigger wing and carbon blades on the rear wheels—metal braided brake traces, and it ditches Porsche’s Lively Suspension Administration system for manually adjustable coilovers.
These chassis and suspension adjustments take no matter street compliance the GT4 RS had left and shoves it within the trash. The Manthey package, mixed with an aggressive monitor alignment, makes this a stiff, darty little automotive. Driving on the street does it a disservice, however there shall be patrons who spend $53,946 plus set up—and no, that’s not a typo—to solely drive it to espresso retailers and brag in regards to the rear wheel aero blades. If that’s you, there’s no must learn additional. The Manthey must be on monitor.
That’s why we took the Manthey-equipped automotive to Lime Rock Park in northwest Connecticut. One among America’s authentic bullrings, Lime Rock is just one.5 miles lengthy. A quick, technical monitor with an exquisite stream, it’s a kind of legendary circuits that makes new, overly computer-designed tracks appear irrelevant. For this check, we’re working the IMSA structure. Sure, that bypasses the very quick and enjoyable “Uphill” nook, but it surely additionally provides a tough braking zone and a difficult chicane. It transforms Lime Rock into a whole circuit, one which checks each facet of a automotive in a lap that’s nonetheless a few minute lengthy.
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On my set up laps, I’m laborious pressed to search out any actual distinction to the bottom GT4 RS. They sound equally intoxicating, each really feel impartial and effectively balanced, braking is linear and powerful, and there’s no apparent adjustments in how the Manthey drives. And that induction noise, that wonderful induction noise that surrounds and invades each a part of your mind, is unchanged from the bottom automotive. That is as shut as you will get to a liter bike for the street. However the inventory automotive sounds precisely the identical.
It appears, at first, that the $53,946 package deal isn’t actually well worth the expense.
The true adjustments turn into obvious once I push. Braking, which has seen modest {hardware} adjustments, is a stunning enchancment. On Lime Rock’s quick however quick entrance straight, the common GT4 RS was squirrelly and nervous at a threshold brake. The Manthey package supplies a stronger preliminary chew and instills extra confidence because it slows the automotive down from 146 mph in direction of the apex, and with much better stability, probably because of the elevated downforce. This package, which seems to make the automotive extra aggressive, additionally makes it simpler to drive.
That’s obvious mid-corner. Just like the common automotive, the Manthey package nonetheless strikes round and is eminently adjustable, however there’s barely extra understeer inbuilt. The stiffer entrance springs and a shift of stability rearward are the culprits right here. It nonetheless feels alive mid-corner, however that slight bit of additional stability is the important thing to a faster lap.
DW Burnett / Motor1
It nonetheless feels alive mid-corner, however that slight bit of additional stability is the important thing to a faster lap.
Lime Rock’s double apex first flip, Huge Bend, is an train in endurance. Within the base automotive, that nook is usually a ache. The final GT4 RS I lapped, I discovered I used to be dancing between energy and elevate to get the automotive to rotate. The Manthey package eliminates that dance and replaces it with sheer predictability. I can get again to energy sooner and know that the automotive gained’t chew on exit. That slight bit extra preliminary and mid-corner push pays dividends on exit, when the elevated steering angle and grip lets the RS shoot out of the nook.
Lime Rock’s sooner corners, like West Bend and the Downhill—an particularly intimidating right-hander with runoff that leads straight right into a barrier—are the place the elevated downforce and high-speed stability turn into obvious. I hold coming into faster and watch apex speeds rise because the aero work instills extra confidence. I’m certain it’s sooner than the common GT4 RS. There’s one solution to discover out.
We throw on a set of contemporary tires to set a lap time. Over two runs, the Manthey-equipped automotive runs a lap of 58.47, half a second faster than the non-Manthey automotive I drove there a yr earlier. Half a second may not sound like a lot, however do not forget that Lime Rock is just one.5 miles lengthy. On longer tracks, like Laguna Seca, Highway America, or Spa, that hole would develop. In reality, the GT4 RS ran a 7:09.30 on the Nurburgring, whereas one with the Manthey package ran a 7:03.12, a full six seconds faster.
DW Burnett / Motor1
DW Burnett / Motor1
Now, the query nonetheless stays: Is it price it? I assume all of it is dependent upon what you wish to accomplish. If you wish to simply take your GT4 RS on occasional monitor days to have enjoyable, and aren’t somebody who can fall sufferer to the pink mist that overtakes many within the pursuit of lap occasions, then you definately don’t want the Manthey Package. However in the event you’re the form of individual with quite a lot of more money who desires the final word manufacturing unit GT4 RS and each tenth issues, then the Manthey Package is a no brainer.
You probably have no intention of taking your GT4 RS on monitor however simply wish to assume you look cool, Porsche will promote you the Manthey rear wheel aero disc for $680. Feels like a discount.
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