Porsche's Manthey Celebrates 30 Years With Two Wild Race Cars

Porsche increased its stake in Manthey to 67 percent this week, strengthening ties with the motorsport specialist as the company celebrates three decades of making Stuttgart's sports cars even more capable on track. Now, Manthey is marking the milestone with two limited-edition race cars that put its engineering expertise on full display.

Meet the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30 and 911 GT3 Cup MR 30, unveiled today at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim. These aren't just anniversary specials with complicated names and fancy decals. Manthey says both were developed for actual track use, combining lessons learned from customer racing with decades of work on aerodynamics, cooling, suspension, and weight reduction. In other words, these are proper race cars first and collector's items second.

The 718 will hold a special place in the Porsche-Manthey lineage because it celebrates the culmination of a decade of Cayman-based race car development. It’s effectively a last hurrah, considering production of the road-going car has ended and Zuffenhausen said earlier this week that another ICE-powered Cayman isn’t happening.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT RS Clubsport MR30 by Manthey

Photo by: Manthey Racing

Light Is Right: The Manthey Way

The swan song features a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six producing 493 horsepower. Extensive carbon-fiber bodywork and a bespoke wheel set cut weight by 12.5 pounds (5.7 kilograms) over the base car. Manthey has redesigned much of the exterior, including the fenders, hood, front bumper, splitter, rear bumper, rear lid, and wing.

The revised bodywork isn't just about looking more aggressive. Additional front flics and a carbon-fiber diffuser generate extra downforce, while the central radiator arrangement and optimized brake cooling help the car cope with the demands of endurance racing.

To mark the milestone, the Cayman gets exclusive anniversary graphics, a numbered badge, and special headrest embroidery. The white-and-red livery pays tribute to Manthey's corporate colors and racing heritage while offering a modern take on the team's familiar design language.

With an electric 718 Cayman coming soon, it’ll be interesting to see whether Manthey develops upgrades for the high-performance EV. The company is no stranger to cars without combustion engines, having already worked on the Taycan.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 by Manthey

Photo by: Manthey Racing

Manthey Bumps The 911 GT3 Cup's Engine Displacement

The more powerful of the two anniversary specials is based on the 992.1-generation 911 GT3 Cup, but Manthey has gone well beyond bolting on a few aerodynamic add-ons. The race car now packs a water-cooled 4.2-liter flat-six producing 552 horsepower. That's an increase in displacement over the standard Cup car's 4.0-liter engine, with power sent to the rear wheels through a sequential six-speed gearbox.

Manthey has also overhauled the aerodynamics and cooling systems, drawing on experience gained from customer racing at the Nürburgring. The bodywork features extensive recycled carbon-fiber components, including the front wings, hood, rear body panels, wheel-arch extensions, and rear wing. A central radiator layout improves airflow and reduces the risk of radiator damage during contact, while enlarged brake-cooling inlets help keep temperatures under control during demanding sessions.

Other upgrades include a six-way adjustable coilover suspension, revised front and rear suspension geometry, and wider tracks. The front track grows by 0.8 inches (20 millimeters), while the rear gains nearly 2 inches (50 mm). Manthey's lightweight forged wheels shave another 8.3 pounds (3.8 kg), while exclusive anniversary details inside and out distinguish the 911 from the regular Cup MR.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT RS Clubsport MR30 and 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 by Manthey

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Source: Manthey Racing

30 Cars: Manthey Caps Each Porsche Racer At 15 Units

Manthey will produce only 15 examples of each special edition, making these cars exceptionally rare even by motorsport standards. Manthey will take orders until October 30, after which it will allocate the limited production run. Deliveries of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30 are scheduled to begin in November, while the 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 will follow in the first quarter of next year.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but neither car is intended for casual track-day drivers looking for an inexpensive way to spend a weekend at the circuit. These are dedicated competition machines for customers who want the best Manthey offers in its race cars. And yes, both are available to order in the United States.

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