Porsche fans, rejoice! The latest generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 has made history by becoming the fastest production car with a manual transmission ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife. With a blistering time of 6:56.294 minutes, this motorsport-inspired machine is redefining what a purist driver’s car can do.
Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister was behind the wheel of the 911 GT3 fitted with the Weissach package—bringing together cutting-edge track tech and classic driver engagement. The lap time not only beats the outgoing GT3 by 3.633 seconds (despite that car using the quicker-shifting PDK gearbox) but also surpasses a more powerful rival by over 9.5 seconds.
According to Andreas Preuninger, head of the GT model line, this effort was all about responding to the fans: “More and more GT3 customers are opting for the six-speed manual, and they kept asking how fast it could go around the ‘Ring. We’ve answered that now—with a time that shows the manual still has a place at the top.”
The record was set in ideal conditions—cool ambient temps of 12°C, a dry 27°C track, and a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires wrapping the lightweight 20/21-inch wheels. All the aero upgrades from the Weissach package were put to good use, helping the car hold fast through every section of the Green Hell.
Bergmeister had high praise for the car’s performance, especially its refined handling: “The new GT3 feels more stable over curbs and bumps—thanks to lessons learned from the GT3 RS chassis. The shorter gear ratios really help deliver more punch out of the corners, even with the same 510 PS. Sure, the PDK might be quicker on paper, but with the manual, it was just more fun.” Taking a closer look at the onboard video, you can see Joerg Bergmeister truly feels at ease doing this, he’s not even wearing gloves apparently.
Porsche once again shows itself at its finest—blending mechanical precision with pure, unfiltered driving joy. And for those of us who believe the soul of the 911 lives in the connection between driver and machine, this record is more than just a number—it’s a celebration.
Onboard video
