Automotive
In the world of high-performance sports cars, records matter—and Porsche just set a big one. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 has officially become the fastest manual-transmission car to ever lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, thanks to factory driver Jörg Bergmeister and a perfect combination of raw mechanical engagement and refined engineering.
Shattering a Longstanding Record
The new GT3 clocked a blistering 6:56.294 lap time on the full 12.94-mile configuration of the Nürburgring. That not only eclipses the previous benchmark for manual-transmission vehicles—held for eight years by the Dodge Viper ACR with a 7:01.3—but also undercuts the older 911 GT3, which was equipped with the quicker-shifting PDK dual-clutch automatic. For purists, this is a monumental moment: Porsche proved that a manual can still dominate in a performance landscape that increasingly favors automation.
Interestingly, on the older and slightly shorter 12.8-mile configuration of the track, the GT3 recorded an even more jaw-dropping time of 6:51.764. That means, no matter how you slice it, the Porsche didn’t just beat the Viper—it obliterated it by more than 10 seconds, all while running with roughly 140 fewer horsepower.
Refinements Over Raw Power
While the engine remains familiar—Porsche’s naturally aspirated flat-six—the performance leap comes from refined chassis tuning, improved aerodynamics, and gearing optimized for engagement and response. Bergmeister credited the improvements largely to lessons learned from the 911 GT3 RS, noting that the 2025 GT3 feels more composed over curbs and bumps and inspires more confidence at the limit.
One key change is the eight percent shorter gear ratio in the manual transmission. This tweak delivers noticeably better acceleration from the rear wheels without touching the engine’s output. The result? A car that’s more thrilling to drive and easier to push hard on a technical, high-speed track like the ‘Ring.
More Than Just Numbers
The record-setting GT3 wasn’t a standard build, either. Porsche equipped the car with the Weissach Package, a performance-focused suite that adds carbon-fiber trim and other lightweight components to reduce mass and sharpen handling. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires—some of the grippiest road-legal tires available—further contributed to the lap time, showcasing how much attention to detail Porsche invests in its track weaponry.
Driving Enjoyment Still Comes First
Even though the seven-speed PDK might have been slightly quicker around the track, Bergmeister emphasized the extra engagement and enjoyment he got from the manual gearbox. In his words, “With the six-speed manual gearbox I definitely had more to do on the fast lap, and thus also a bit more fun.”
This achievement doesn’t just serve as a headline for Porsche—it’s a celebration of driver involvement at a time when the manual transmission is becoming an endangered species. Porsche has made it clear that performance and driving enjoyment don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
For now, the GT3 wears the crown, and unless someone like Gordon Murray Automotive decides to throw a manual supercar into the mix, this record might stand for a long time.
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