Shifting-Gears

Key Highlights The Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) sets a new Nurburgring record for the fastest manual car, clocking a lap time of 6:56.294 minutes. The lap time beats the previous record held by the Dodge Viper ACR by 9.5 seconds. The GT3 was equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox and the optional Weissach Package for weight reduction. Porsche has once again proven its dominance at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, setting a new record for the fastest manual production car around the legendary circuit. The facelifted 992.2 Porsche 911 GT3, piloted by Porsche brand ambassador Jorg Bergmeister, completed the 20.832 km lap in an astonishing 6 minutes and 56.294 seconds. Who did the Porsche 911 GT3 beat? This lap time makes the manual GT3 nearly 10 seconds faster than the previous record holder, the Dodge Viper ACR, which set a 7:01.3 lap time on the shorter 20.6 km layout back in 2017. Porsche estimates that the Viper’s full-length lap time would have been around 7:05.8 minutes, meaning the GT3 outpaced it by a whopping 9.5 seconds. Porsche 911 GT3 that broke the records The record-breaking GT3 was equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, proving that traditional stick-shift sports cars can still deliver blistering performance. The car also featured the optional Weissach Package, which reduces weight by 12 kg through the use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber for the roof, spoiler, and trim pieces. Additionally, the GT3 ran on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, further enhancing grip and stability. Under the hood, the GT3 retains its 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine, producing 510 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Despite lacking the rapid gear shifts of Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission, the manual GT3 managed to shave 3.6 seconds off the lap time of its predecessor, the 992.1 GT3 with PDK. Bergmeister praised the car’s improved chassis dynamics, stating that the new GT3 felt more stable over bumps and curbs, thanks to lessons learned from the GT3 RS. The shorter gear ratios also contributed to better acceleration, making the car faster in nearly every corner. With this achievement, the manual 911 GT3 now ranks as the fourth-fastest Porsche around the Nürburgring, trailing only the GT2 RS (991.2) and GT3 RS models. The lap time also surpasses the Porsche 918 Spyder’s record of 6:57 minutes, despite the latter having a 377 hp advantage and all-wheel drive. Our Thoughts As someone who loves seeing manual sports cars defy expectations, the Porsche 911 GT3’s Nürburgring record is a thrilling achievement. The fact that it outpaced the Viper ACR and even the mighty 918 Spyder is nothing short of incredible. And let’s be honest—there’s something undeniably satisfying about a stick-shift car proving its worth in an era dominated by automatics. Here’s hoping Porsche keeps the manual alive—it’s a win for driving purists everywhere! Also read: Tesla enters US-China tariff war, stops importing Chinese parts

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