MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods - story Go to full screen story Fullscreen

MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods

Find out how enhancing the most radical 991ever made, makes the 992 Turbo seem obsolete

by Dimitar Angelov on October 11, 2024, 17:00

The Porsche 911 has always had a myriad of versions, ranging from sporty grand tourers and supercar slayers to all-out track weapons. While the Turbo is the most recurring name when it comes to high-performance Porsche 911s that you can daily drive, there is another model that takes the usable sports car formula and makes it meaner. I am, of course, referring to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which is essentially a more powerful, turbocharged GT3 RS. The GT2 RS is the most powerful variant of the Porsche 911 lineup with the exception of the GT1, but we haven’t had one of those in a while.

The 991 GT2 RS is the last iteration of the track-focused 911 with slight psychotic tendencies. The 911 GT2 models have always been a bit of a handful, but if the 991 GT2 RS doesn’t provide enough drama for you, the MANHART TR 900 is definitely for you, and more exciting than the hybrid 911 Turbo, Porsche that is about to launch with the 992.2 series.

MANHART touches one of the most collectible 911 models

MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods storyboard - image 194580

The 911 is a capable platform, making it very appealing for tuners to unlock extra performance. TECHART has developed its own, Flyweight kit for the 911 Turbo S and ES Motor is capable of turning the Turbo S into a hypercar slayer. However, as capable as the Turbo S is, it is still one of the more mainstream 911 models. The GT2 RS, meanwhile, has always been a limited-production model that typically debuts as a swan-song model of each 911 generation since the 993.

MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods storyboard - image 194581

With the 991 generation came the fourth iteration of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. With 1,000 units produced, it is the most mass-produced GT2 RS. For comparison, the original 911 GT2 – the 993 – was produced in just 57 copies. There was no 993 GT2 RS. The 996 was the first time that a GT2 RS was introduced. The total 996 GT2 production was 1,287 cars, with a relatively small portion of those being the RS. For the 997 generation, just 500 units of the 911 GT2 RS were made. With a 992 GT2 nowhere in sight (for now), it begs the question, will the 991 be the most collectible GT2 RS ever made?

What it takes to turn the Porsche 991 GT2 RS into the MANHART TR 900

MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods storyboard - image 194502

Needless to say, the 991 GT2 RS is an extremely capable car out of the box. As far as Porsche’s iconic boxer engines go, the MDH.NA, which powers the 991 GT2 RS, is one of the greatest. Like previous 911 GT2 versions, the engine is based on the Turbo S mill, typically with bigger turbochargers and the obligatory supporting mods that come with them. In the case of the 991 GT2 RS, Porsche has fitted larger, variable-geometry turbochargers, which at 22.5 psi, produce 24 percent more boost than the 991 Turbo S turbos.

MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods storyboard - image 194501

As with any GT2/ GT2 RS, Porsche has taken the all-wheel drive out, stiffened the suspension up, and introduced an aggressive body kit. German tuner, MANHART takes that formula and turns it to the max. The tuner takes the already insane aerodynamics of the GT2 RS and enhances them with its own carbon-fiber body kit, including a front splitter with side extensions, new air intakes, side skirts, and a new diffuser with extension plates. MANHART has decided the GT2 RS’ rear wing is already pretty extreme, so they have only added the TR 900 designation to it. The whole body is finished in Midnight Dark Green with the tuner’s signature golden stripes. The interior was left virtually untouched, with carbon fiber and Alcantara inserts dominating the cabin.

MANHART TR900: A 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS On Steriods storyboard - image 194495

MANHART TR 900 Performance upgrades include

  • Larger, TH1000 turbochargers

  • ECU remap

  • Upgraded radiators and intercoolers

  • Additional MANTHEY coolant tank

  • MANHART’s in-house aluminum manifold

The seven-speed PDK transmission has also been upgraded to reliably handle the engine’s new output levels. As for the gains in performance, here’s how the stock Porsche 991 GT2 RS and MANHART TR900 compared side-by-side:

Performance specifications Porsche 911 (991) GT2 RS MANHART TR 900
Engine 3.8-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo, flat-6 3.8-liter, DOHC, twin-turbo, flat-6
Power 690 horsepower at 7,000 RPM 945 horsepower
Torque 553 pound-feet at 2,500-4,500 RPM 774 pound-feet
Transmission 7-speed PDK automatic 7-speed PDK automatic
Drivetrain Rear engine, RWD Rear engine, RWD
Curb weight 3,241 pounds (3,175 pounds with Weissach package)  3,170 pounds
0-60 mph 2.7 seconds  2.7 seconds
Top speed 211 mph 211+ mph

Finally, onto the price, all of this will obviously cost you a pretty penny. Everything that you see in the pictures here, including the Performance kit, the downpipes, and the carbon-fiber bits should set you back around $75,000, excluding the car, which in case you were wondering, currently hovers just under $400k, according to classic.com.

Dimitar Angelov

Dimitar Angelov

Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio