New Porsche 911 GT3 Breaks Nürburgring Record with Manual Gearbox

The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 with Weissach Package sets a Nürburgring lap record for manual cars. Discover how it beat rivals by over 9 seconds.

The Porsche 911 GT3 has rewritten the Nürburgring rulebook for manual transmission sports cars. Equipped with the Weissach Package and a six-speed manual gearbox, the new GT3 lapped the full 20.832-kilometre Nordschleife in just 6:56.294 minutes. Behind the wheel was Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister.

This impressive time beat the extrapolated record—originally set on the shorter 20.6 km track—by over 9.5 seconds. It was also 3.633 seconds faster than the prior-generation GT3 with a PDK dual-clutch transmission.

The test vehicle delivered 510 horsepower and ran on road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 R tyres. Unlike its PDK-equipped predecessor, this version relied on a conventional limited-slip differential and a shorter gear ratio—8% shorter, to be exact—providing greater drive force from the rear axle.

“We’re seeing more and more customers choose the manual transmission,” said Andreas Preuninger, Director of the GT model line. “So we felt it was time to answer the question of just how fast the GT3 could be with a manual gearbox.”

According to Bergmeister, the new GT3 felt more composed on curbs and bumps, a benefit gained from the refined suspension setup, which borrows components from the GT3 RS. The car was “faster in almost every corner,” he noted.

The Weissach Package further enhances performance with carbon-fibre components and optional forged magnesium wheels, contributing to better aerodynamics and reduced weight. The U.S. base price for the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 starts at $222,500, excluding taxes and optional features.

While the PDK variant might still be quicker on paper, this record demonstrates that the manual version delivers not just performance, but driving joy and engagement. And for many, that’s what makes all the difference.

Source: porsche.com