Call it a fitting "30 for 30" milestone if you’d like. Manthey Racing—a powerhouse that has spent three decades in the grueling world of motorsports, pushing the limits of cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 and, more recently, even high-performance electric vehicles like the Taycan Turbo GT to set production-car records at legendary venues like the Nürburgring—is commemorating its ruby anniversary in a grand way. The renowned German engineering and racing outfit has launched two strictly limited-production race cars: the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30.

Just 15 examples of each model will be built worldwide, conveniently adding up to a total of 30 cars to honor Manthey’s 30th birthday. Both machines will make their official public debut during the DTM finale weekend at the Hockenheimring in Germany. The celebratory rollout arrives right on the heels of an announcement made by Porsche earlier in the week, confirming that the sports car manufacturer has increased its stake in Manthey to a commanding 67 percent. According to Porsche, the move is designed to "further expand its presence in the performance segment for both racetrack and road, beyond its own GT models."

A Bigger Flat-Six

The more substantial and mechanical transformation of the anniversary duo starts with the 911 GT3 Cup MR 30. Engineers and technicians began the build using a 992.1-generation chassis, largely because the newer 992.2 Cup cars are still actively being produced for dedicated race teams around the globe. From there, they significantly increased the displacement of the water-cooled flat-six engine to 4.2 liters. This substantial bump in engine size raises output to approximately 560 horsepower, placing its performance envelope remarkably close to the factory 911 GT3 R racers competing in top-tier championships like IMSA, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and DTM.

Ultimately, Manthey positions this special anniversary edition neatly between the standard 4.0-liter-powered 911 GT3 Cup and the full-blown 911 GT3 R customer racing car. While Manthey has chosen to keep exact figures under wraps regarding how high this newly developed 4.2-liter flat-six will rev, company representatives indicate that the powerplant is easily capable of handling speeds exceeding 9,200 rpm, matching the furious cadence of contemporary professional race cars.

This dramatic engine displacement bump serves as a nostalgic reminder that while modern Manthey Racing development kits frequently focus heavily on aerodynamics, upgraded braking systems, specialized suspension tuning, and lightweight wheels, engine modifications were once a much larger cornerstone of the company’s foundational tuning efforts. Decades ago, Manthey famously offered road- and track-going GT3 models equipped with enlarged pistons, including a legendary 3.9-liter engine conversion built for the 996 generation.

Beyond the engine room, the new MR 30 receives an extensively revised aerodynamic and cooling package that Manthey states has already been rigorously proven through rigorous customer racing programs on the daunting Nürburgring Nordschleife. In fact, an earlier development prototype carrying less power than the final production-spec MR 30 managed to hustle its way around the NLS circuit configuration in an impressive 7:58.605 during the heat of the summer months, suggesting that the completed car possesses even greater performance potential waiting to be unlocked.

Additional carbon-fiber components have been integrated throughout both the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Technicians even went so far as to replace the standard factory intake box with a significantly lighter carbon-fiber unit. At the rear, an imposing wing spans roughly 180 centimeters wide to plant the rear axle firmly to the tarmac. Furthermore, Manthey converts the 911’s cooling architecture to a central-radiator layout, a design choice implemented both to optimize overall airflow through the front end and to render the sensitive cooling components far less vulnerable during unavoidable wheel-to-wheel racing contact on the track.

To help manage thermal loads effectively during extended stint racing, larger brake-cooling inlets have been integrated into the bodywork. Meanwhile, a completely redesigned front splitter, a revised underbody, and the aforementioned oversized rear wing work in tandem to substantially increase downforce. To accommodate wider performance tires, the car’s wheel arches have been flared, resulting in an increased track width of 20 millimeters at the front and a massive 50 millimeters at the rear.

The car also rolls on bespoke wheels manufactured entirely in-house by Manthey in Germany. This special anniversary wheelset manages to shed approximately 8.4 pounds of unsprung mass compared to standard equipment, markedly improving the car’s immediate reactions and agility. Complementing the weight savings are six-way-adjustable dampers, revised spring rates, and a thoroughly retuned suspension geometry, giving drivers a broader range of setup adjustability than what is typically found on competing machinery today.

For the privileged cohort of 15 drivers or collectors hoping to secure an allocation, the financial barrier to entry varies by region. In Europe, before local taxes, tariffs, and logistics expenses are factored in, the price of the 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 playfully matches its engine displacement at the rough equivalent of 419,400 Euros. Meanwhile, in the United States, the exclusive sports cars will be distributed directly through Porsche Motorsport North America with an MSRP of $580,000, a figure that includes necessary import duties and freight shipping.

A Farewell to the Cayman

Taking a distinct engineering path, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30 approaches the milestone formula from a different angle. Instead of opting for a larger engine displacement or an increase in raw power, Manthey’s development team focused their primary efforts on strict weight reduction, aerodynamic refinement, and optimized cooling, serving as an ultimate, high-performance farewell kiss to the beloved mid-engine Cayman platform.

This special edition represents the culmination of more than a decade of dedicated Cayman racing development, stretching all the way back to the early homologation performance kits Manthey produced for the original 981-generation Cayman GT4 Clubsport. The brand’s deep familiarity with the platform was further cemented when a 718 Cayman GT4 RS Manthey was put through its paces during annual high-speed testing at Virginia International Raceway, a machine that test drivers found genuinely difficult to stop driving once the session concluded.

To shave precious fractions of a second off lap times, the MR 30 treatment incorporates carbon-fiber front fenders, lightweight headlight assemblies, a vented front hood, a modified front bumper, an aggressive splitter, a new rear bumper, a lightweight decklid, a towering rear wing, and a functional rear diffuser. Together, these modifications trim approximately 12.5 pounds from the MR 30 compared to the standard GT4 RS Clubsport. Meanwhile, the car’s screaming, naturally aspirated 493-horsepower flat-six engine—which proudly revs all the way to a spine-tingling 9,000 rpm—is left mostly untouched.

Much like its 911 stablemate, the Cayman variant utilizes a central radiator layout alongside heavily upgraded brake cooling hardware, with certain architectural elements tracing their direct lineage back to Manthey’s aggressive 911 GT2 RS Clubsport Evo motorsport program.

Manthey describes the 718 Cayman MR 30 as the definitive final chapter in the development lifecycle of its Cayman-based race cars, effectively sending off the outgoing platform before future racing variants eventually transition to newer models like the 911 GT4 R. The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30 carries a price tag of $390,000.

30 Cars, 30 Years

Visually, both anniversary models make a bold statement on the pit lane, wearing specialized white-and-red anniversary liveries that draw direct inspiration from Manthey’s striking No. 911 Nürburgring 24 Hours race entry. The 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 goes a step further by featuring a white-painted chassis, serving as a subtle nod to historic Porsche factory race cars of the past. Commemorative anniversary logos, individualized numbered plaques, custom-embroidered racing seats, and oversized wing endplates complete the celebratory package.

Jan-Helmut Brakhage, Manthey’s Director of Race Cars and Motorsports Products, notes that while the clientele purchasing these rare track toys may frequently include dedicated collectors, he fundamentally hopes they find homes with individuals eager to experience the engineering firsthand.

"The people most interested in race cars that are largely ghosts of racing’s past could be collectors, but I hope they are someone who is genuinely curious about how a 4.2-liter feels in a Cup car," Brakhage said. "That engine in a Cup car is so special. I would love them to feel that. I would like them to race these cars."

Manthey Racing will officially accept customer orders through October 30, after which allocations for the strictly limited run of 15 units per model will be finalized. Production is slated to begin with the Cayman variants, with customer deliveries scheduled to commence in November 2026, while the first wave of 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 deliveries will arrive during the first quarter of 2027.