The battle for production car supremacy at Road Atlanta has intensified after Porsche reclaimed the circuit’s lap record with a specially equipped 911 GT2 RS. Despite being seven years old and significantly down on power compared to Chevrolet’s latest Corvette ZR1, the Porsche narrowly secured the fastest production car lap ever recorded at the Georgia track.
The 2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS fitted with the Manthey Kit completed the lap in 1:22.649, edging out the 1,064-horsepower Corvette ZR1 by just two-tenths of a second. While the Corvette carries substantially more power, the Porsche demonstrated the effectiveness of its lightweight setup, advanced aerodynamics and chassis balance around one of America’s most demanding road courses.
The lap time also represented a major improvement over the standard GT2 RS, which was previously more than two seconds slower around the same circuit. Porsche achieved the new record using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N0 tires that are road legal and identical to the tires used during the earlier GT2 RS lap in 2019. The improvement highlighted the gains made through the Manthey performance package, particularly in aerodynamic grip and cornering capability.
Porsche also used the Road Atlanta outing to showcase several newer 911 GT models. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 RS equipped with the Manthey Kit posted a 1:23.932 lap, making it the fastest naturally aspirated production car to ever circle the track. The car’s cornering speeds approached those typically associated with GT-class race cars, underlining the increasing track focus of Porsche’s modern GT lineup.
Another strong performance came from the 2026 Porsche 911 GT3 with the Manthey Kit, which recorded a lap of 1:24.639. That was nearly two seconds quicker than the previous-generation GT3 Porsche brought to the track several years ago.
Porsche’s Manthey upgrades have become especially attractive to enthusiasts because they remain available through official Porsche dealerships in the United States without affecting factory warranty coverage.
The latest records may not stand for long, however. Porsche is widely expected to introduce a new GT2 RS for the 2027 model year, with testing already underway. Industry speculation also suggests future GT3 models could eventually adopt turbocharging as stricter global emissions standards continue reshaping high-performance sports cars.
