A Porsche 911 GT3 with the optional Weissach Package has set the fastest time ever for a manual production car around the challenging Nürburgring track in Germany. The driver, Joerg Bergmeister, guided the car to a lap time of 6:56.294 minutes, beating the previous record by over two seconds.
The 502 horsepower car achieved this impressive feat on a sunny day with temperatures at 54 degrees Fahrenheit and an asphalt temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Porsche credited improvements in the chassis and gear ratios for the performance gain, stating that shorter gears sent more power to the rear axle.
In contrast, the PDK dual-clutch transmission is expected to shave off several seconds from the lap time. However, setting a manual-transmission record was part of the goal.
“I definitely had more to do on the fast lap and thus also a bit more fun,” Bergmeister said in a statement. This achievement puts the 911 GT3 among the fastest sports cars ever around the Nürburgring, with only a few models beating its time.
The Porsche 991 GT2 RS Manthey Performance Kit holds the overall record at 6:43.300 minutes, followed by the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series at 6:48.047 minutes and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS at 6:49.328 minutes. The manual 911 GT3’s time of 6:56.294 minutes is over a second quicker than the fifth-fastest sports car, the Ford Mustang GTD.
Porsche expressed excitement about setting the record and noting an increase in manual transmission sales for the 911 GT3. Customers are increasingly asking how fast their manual-equipped 911 GT3 would be on the Nordschleife, and Porsche has now answered this question.
Source: https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/porsche-911-gt3-fastest-manual-production-car-ever-nurburgring-1236476985