Porsche’s latest 911 GT3 just shattered the manual transmission record at the Nürburgring, proving that the stick shift isn’t just for nostalgia, it’s for speed too.

Key Points:

The New Porsche 911 GT3 sets new record with a six-speed manual transmission
Beats previous manual car record by a whopping 9.5 seconds
Outperforms PDK-equipped predecessor by 3.6 seconds

Look, as a guy from Europe, we pretty much all learn how to drive on a manual car and some of us will ride that wave of “manuals over everything” mantra almost all our lives. In a day and age of self driving cars, driving a manual car almost seems backwards and it is in fact a dying breed. But happily there are still car manufacturers out there such as Porsche and BMW that understand the need for manual performance cars.

911 gt3 manual record 2025 nurburgring — Photo by: Porsche

So when I heard that the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 just set a new record at the Nürburgring with a manual transmission, I was amazed. This isn’t just any track record; it’s a statement that manual transmissions are far from dead, so the “save the manuals” crowd can rejoice knowing that there are still options out there.

But anyway, back to the lap.

The new GT3 manual with the Weissach spec, driven by the legendary Jorg Bergmeister, lapped the iconic Nordschleife in 6:56.294 minutes, that is 9.5 seconds faster than the previous manual car record holder, the Dodge Viper ACR. It even outpaced the pre-facelift GT3 with Porsche’s signature PDK transmission by a whopping 3.6 seconds. That’s right, folks, the manual version is quicker around the ‘Ring than its dual-clutch sibling.

911 GT3 Manual Record Lap time at Nurburgring — Photo by: Porsche

It’s like Porsche is saying, “Hey, we get it. You want to feel connected to your car, and we’re here to deliver.”

The six-speed manual in the GT3 isn’t just a nod to tradition, folks, it’s a testament to the fact that sometimes the old school ways of doing things are the best ways.

Still, let’s not forget the technical wizardry that makes this possible. This isn’t just an ordinary car with a manual. The GT3’s 4.0-liter flat-six rear engine, revving to a screaming 9,000 RPM, is a masterpiece of engineering and pairing it with a manual transmission makes it a total and absolute experience to drive it.

Not to mention that with a chassis tuned to perfection, the GT3 isn’t just fast, it’s a scalpel on the track as Porsches are known to be.

911 GT3 Manual Nurburgring — Photo by: Porsche

So in the end, for enthusiasts like us, this is more than just a record. It’s a reminder that the heart of driving is still beating strong and there are still car companies that are listening to the people and what some of us desire, even if we aren’t the majority. So next time someone tells you that manuals are outdated, just point them to the Nürburgring and the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3’s lap record.

Interesting Stats/Facts:

Did you know? The Nürburgring Nordschleife is 12.9 miles long, making it one of the longest and most challenging race tracks in the world.
Manual vs. Automatic: Despite the rise of automatic transmissions, manual cars still account for about 10% of new car sales in the U.S., showing that there’s still a dedicated fanbase for the stick shift.