Automotive
On the earth of high-performance sports cars, records matter—and Porsche just set an enormous one. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 has officially turn into the fastest manual-transmission automobile to ever lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, because of factory driver Jörg Bergmeister and an ideal combination of raw mechanical engagement and refined engineering.
Shattering a Longstanding Record
The brand new GT3 clocked a blistering 6:56.294 lap time on the complete 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 additionally undercuts the older 911 GT3, which was equipped with the quicker-shifting PDK dual-clutch automatic. For purists, this can be a monumental moment: Porsche proved that a manual can still dominate in a performance landscape that increasingly favors automation.
Interestingly, on the older and barely shorter 12.8-mile configuration of the track, the GT3 recorded a fair more jaw-dropping time of 6:51.764. Which means, regardless of the way you slice it, the Porsche didn’t just beat the Viper—it obliterated it by greater than 10 seconds, all while running with roughly 140 fewer horsepower.
Refinements Over Raw Power
While the engine stays 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 on the limit.
One key change is the eight percent shorter gear ratio within the manual transmission. This tweak delivers noticeably higher acceleration from the rear wheels without touching the engine’s output. The result? A automobile that’s more thrilling to drive and easier to push hard on a technical, high-speed track just like the ‘Ring.
More Than Just Numbers
The record-setting GT3 wasn’t a regular construct, either. Porsche equipped the automobile with the Weissach Package, a performance-focused suite that adds carbon-fiber trim and other lightweight components to cut back mass and sharpen handling. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires—a number 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
Though the seven-speed PDK might need been barely quicker across the track, Bergmeister emphasized the additional engagement and delight 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 function 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 need 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 combination, this record might stand for a very long time.
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This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
