Porsche Sets Nürburgring Record With 911 GT3 Manual — A Purist’s Dream

If you’re the kind of driver who believes real performance comes with a clutch pedal, Porsche just gave you something to brag about. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 has officially become the fastest production car with a manual transmission to lap the Nürburgring-Nordschleife — and it did so in style, crushing the previous record by over 9.5 seconds.

A Manual Milestone: 6:56.294 Minutes on the Nordschleife

Porsche’s Joerg Bergmeister piloted the new 911 GT3, equipped with a six-speed manual and the optional Weissach Package, to a blistering 6:56.294 lap around the 12.94-mile Green Hell. That’s not just fast — it’s over 3.6 seconds quicker than the last-gen GT3 with the quicker-shifting PDK automatic. Even crazier? The previous record holder had a significantly more powerful engine.

The run was done under official supervision with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires — street legal, but track-focused — wrapped around 20-inch fronts and 21-inch rears.

Why This Record Matters

This wasn’t just a random flex. Porsche’s GT boss Andreas Preuninger explained the motivation behind this record attempt:

“More and more customers of the 911 GT3 are opting for the six-speed manual transmission. And more and more often we are asked by these customers how fast a 911 GT3 with manual transmission would be on the Nordschleife.”

Even knowing the PDK version is faster, Porsche wanted to show what their three-pedal loyalists could do. As Preuninger put it:

“Even without the automated, super-fast and precise gearshifts of the PDK and with a mechanical instead of electronically controlled limited-slip differential, the new 911 GT3 takes around 3.6 seconds off its predecessor with PDK.”

Same Power, Better Performance

Here’s what’s wild: the engine hasn’t changed — it’s still pushing 502 horsepower. But thanks to further chassis tuning (influenced by the 911 GT3 RS), more grip over curbs, and shorter gear ratios, the car just puts down power better.

Bergmeister summed up the improvement simply: “The new 911 GT3 inspires even more confidence at the limit than the previous model. I was faster in almost every corner.”

He added: “Thanks to the eight percent shorter gear ratio, there is noticeably more power on the rear axle when accelerating with the same engine power. Even if it would have been a few seconds faster with the seven-speed PDK – with the six-speed manual gearbox I definitely had more to do on the fast lap and thus also a bit more fun.”

Final Gear Thoughts

For the manual loyalists out there, this record is more than just a number — it’s validation. Porsche continues to double down on offering engaging driver-focused options, even in a world going increasingly automatic and electric.

And if you’re the kind of guy who values the thrill of a heel-toe downshift or the connection that comes from rowing your own gears, this is your victory lap too.