Porsche Acquires All of Manthey

Porsche, by increasing its stake in from 51% to 67% Manthey Racing, is establishing a new revenue stream based on semi-factory "few-off" special models, performance kits, and exclusive track experiences. Announced on October 8, 2026, this move turns a thirty-year racing partnership into a permanent and corporate transformation; for 911 owners and collectors, Manthey is no longer a tuner, but part of Porsche's own structure.

Why Is Porsche Increasing Its Stake in Manthey?

Porsche's official statement presents the stake increase as part of the Sportwagenschmiede '35 strategy and the newly created "Home of Sports Cars" division. This division is split into three separate areas: Performance (including Manthey), Exclusiveness (Sonderwunsch and Exclusive Manufaktur), and Heritage. Manthey's place in this structure is clear: the showcase name of the performance side.

The words of company CEO Dr. Michael Leiters on the subject summarize the intent behind the move:

Manthey has been a reliable Porsche partner for many years. By increasing our stake, we are getting even closer to this brand, located near the Nürburgring and highly successful in customer racing. We are thinking about special models in the minority production ('few-off') segment, performance kits, and exclusive track experiences.

The three words in this sentence actually give the key to the future product calendar: few-off models, kits, track experiences. In other words, Porsche is not making a one-time share purchase here, but building a business model that will generate regular revenue. In the past, the partnership was a code-based collaboration; now the roof is singular and the accounts are shared.

Manthey's Journey: From Tuner to Corporate Partner

Manthey Racing was founded in 1996 by Olaf Manthey in Meuspath, near the Nürburgring. Since its founding, the company's fate has been shaped around that track known as the Green Hell: seven overall victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and six class wins at Le Mans, numerous FIA WEC titles, and DTM championships. For a racing team, these are not just numbers, but credentials.

Gradual Convergence Since 2013

Porsche's relationship with Manthey did not begin suddenly. In 2013/2014, the German brand acquired a 51% majority stake and the team officially came under its roof. The real deepening came from 2020 onwards: to date, nine joint Manthey Kits have been developed; these cover the 911 and 718 families, and the Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package is even included in this list. In other words, track-focused aerodynamics and chassis work was applied even to an electric performance model - this is the clearest sign that the partnership has evolved from a racing workshop agreement into engineering integration.

The performance claim of the Manthey Kits is not abstract either: a 991.2 911 GT2 RS equipped with the kit set the series-production car lap record at Road Atlanta with 1:22.649 . This lap time is a concrete example of what a track package developed with factory support can prove on the track.

What Does the Home of Sports Cars Strategy Contain?

Porsche's Sportwagenschmiede '35 strategy is a framework in which the brand defines its roadmap extending to 2035, and the share increase is one of the first concrete corporate moves within this framework. The three pillars of the Home of Sports Cars section can be summarized as follows:

• Performance: Manthey Racing and track-focused development capacity.
• Exclusiveness: Personalization through the Sonderwunsch program and Exclusive Manufaktur.
• Heritage: Preserving the brand's heritage and work carrying archival value.

These three pillars are not disconnected from each other; on the contrary, they address the same customer at three different stages. A 911 GT3 owner first gets a Manthey Kit, then personalizes it with Sonderwunsch, and joins the queue for a collectible few-off model. In the past, each step of this journey went through a different door; now it is gathered under a single section.

Few-Off Models and Manthey Kits: What Will Be Offered?

Few-off, as the name suggests, refers to models produced in small numbers; they should not be confused with series production. Porsche has officially announced that it plans special productions with Manthey in this segment. In return, which models will come has not yet been announced; comments that the alliance with Manthey paves the way for more radical 911 variants, such as the Flachbau RS one-off unveiled at Hockenheimring, are - it should be noted once again - at the level of industry speculation - Porsche officially only speaks of few-off models, kits, and track experiences.

What can be purchased today, however, is clear. The models covered by the Manthey Kits and sample prices are as follows:

These prices are not manual, of course; the cost of a kit added on top of a 911 is a significant but reasonable extra next to the vehicle itself. But the real issue is not the price, but the nature of the guarantee: these packages developed with factory support carry the manufacturer's engineering signature, unlike independent tuner jobs. Dealer sources say that Manthey-equipped GT3 RS models gain a premium on the used market thanks to limited production and factory warranty; even if driven by commercial motives, this observation is a strong signal about collectible value.

Two Special Models in the 30th Year: MR 30 Series

One day after the share announcement, on October 9, 2026, at the DTM season finale at Hockenheimring, Manthey unveiled two models specially made for its 30th anniversary: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup MR 30 and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport MR 30. Only 15 units of each will be produced. These two models can be read as the first trial run of the few-off strategy; although they are in race car format, the limited-production logic heralds an approach to be carried over to road cars.

The DTM context is no coincidence either. Manthey is battling for its third DTM championship within the last four years; Thomas Preining leads the drivers' standings by 23 points, and in the teams' standings Manthey is 20 points ahead. In other words, the week the share increase was announced coincided with a period when the brand was at its peak both commercially and athletically. Porsche's timing was set with the precision of a player wanting to double down on a good hand.

What Does This Move Mean for 911 Owners and Collectors?

On a practical level, three things are changing. First, Manthey is now more deeply embedded in Porsche's corporate structure; this means kit development and track experiences will gain continuity. Second, the path for few-off models has opened; collectors can expect a long list of limited-production 911-based vehicles ahead. Third, the track experience side is being institutionalized: Manthey offers customer-specific track days at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and tiered training programs such as DISCOVER, LEARN, BOOST, and RACE; as of the 2027 season, the 911 Challenge will also be part of the Porsche Track Experience, which will be operated by Manthey.

Manthey's two managing directors, Nicolas and Martin Raeder, described the share increase as "a personal sign of appreciation" and stated that they support the strategy. The Raeder brothers' satisfaction is understandable: the transformation from an independent workshop to OEM infrastructure has a cost, but it also comes with a guarantee. In the industry, a parallel is drawn between this situation and the Mercedes-AMG relationship - the classic scenario of turning from a tuner into a factory performance division.

There is also a financial reading, which should not be skipped. A 16% additional purchase at a time when Porsche's share price has seen a major drop was interpreted in some circles as a message of confidence that dispels concerns of "will Porsche withdraw from the partnership." The official statement only emphasizes individualization and expansion of the performance segment; the two readings are not mutually exclusive, but as someone who has swallowed the dust of this business, I say this: investing in a strategic asset after a difficult year speaks better to the permanence of intent than doubt does.

Conclusion: From Partnership to Institution

Porsche raising its stake in Manthey to 67% is more than just a share transaction. It is a building block that places three decades of racing heritage, nine-figure engineering know-how, and the authentic track culture of the Nürburgring inside the manufacturer's own revenue model. While watching this arm grow within the triangle of few-off models, performance kits, and track experiences, the real question is which 911 variant will be the first few-off. Porsche is not giving an answer just yet; but Manthey's workshop in Meuspath is no longer only preparing race cars - it is producing strategy.

Sources

• Porsche AG increases its stake in Manthey Racing GmbH
• Porsche presents new strategy through to 2035
• Porsche 911 GT cars with Manthey Kits raise the bar at Road Atlanta
• New Manthey Kit for 911 GT3
• Manthey unveils two limited-edition race car models to mark its 30th anniversary
• History of Manthey
• Driving Experiences - Manthey Racing
• Porsche acquires majority share in Manthey-Racing GmbH
• Manthey Kits - JZM Porsche
• Porsche Track Experience - About Manthey Racing