The Porsche 911 GT3 has just made history by becoming the fastest manual transmission car to lap the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. Clocking in at 6:56.294 minutes, the GT3 was piloted by former motorsport driver Jörg Bergmeister, surpassing the previous record set by the Dodge Viper ACR.
Porsche 911 GT3: Beating the Dodge Viper ACR by 9.5 Seconds
The record-breaking lap by the Porsche 911 GT3 manual was over 9.5 seconds faster than the Dodge Viper ACR, which had held the record for nearly eight years. While the Viper’s time of 7:01.300 was set on the shorter 20.6 km version of the track, Porsche’s record was set on the full 20.832-km layout of the Nürburgring.
A Remarkable Feat Without PDK
Interestingly, the manual 911 GT3 beat even its own automatic sibling. It was 3.66 seconds faster than the previous-gen GT3 with the PDK dual-clutch transmission. Speaking on this milestone, Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Model Line at Porsche, noted the rising popularity of manual transmissions among GT3 customers and emphasized the challenge and joy of pushing a manual to its limits on such a demanding track.
Lighter, Sharper with the Weissach Package
The record-breaking GT3 came equipped with the optional Weissach Package, which sheds 12 kg of weight. This package adds lightweight carbon fiber components on the front lid, roof, and rear wing, along with a visible carbon rear roll cage and six-point seatbelts – optimizing the GT3 for track dominance.
Road-Legal Tyres, Track-Level Performance
The GT3 used Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 R tyres — road-legal yet race-ready — sized 255/35 R20 in front and 315/30 R21 at the rear. These tyres, paired with Porsche’s meticulous aerodynamics and handling setup, ensured the car stayed glued to the tarmac throughout the lap.
Powering the Beast: The 4.0L Flat-Six
Under the hood is a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine, delivering 503 bhp and 450 Nm of torque. It revs up to a thrilling 9000 rpm and is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK automatic. In this case, it was the manual that stole the spotlight.
Conclusion: Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3’s new Nürburgring record isn’t just a win for Porsche—it’s a celebration of analog driving in an increasingly digital age. For enthusiasts, it reaffirms that there’s still something magical about shifting your own gears on one of the world’s most demanding racetracks.
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