Latest news with #JörgBergmeister
NZ Autocar
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Porsche 911 GT3 manual sets new Green Hell lap record
A 911 GT3 has broken through the seven-minute mark to dislodge the V10-engined Dodge Viper ACR as the fastest manual around the Nurburgring. It beat the previous fastest lap by nearly 10 seconds. At the wheel of the GT3 was Jörg Bergmeister. He set a new best time for a manual car of 6min 56.294sec. That's 3.6sec quicker than the pre-facelift 992 with a PDK automatic gearbox. It is also substantially quicker than the previous record holder, the Dodge Viper ACR, which has a more powerful engine. The American supercar features a 481kW 8.4-litre V10. It completed its record lap time of 7min 1.3sec in 2017. However, that was around the shorter 20.6km circuit and corresponds to a time of 7min 5.8sec around the full-length 20.832km loop. That's according to Porsche. By their computations, the 375kW flat-six GT3 was 9.5sec faster around the current circuit. A GT3 from 2022 somewhere in the Alps. The vehicle used for the attempt had the Weissach Package fitted. That's a $NZ45k optional extra that shaves 12kg from the standard GT3. It also ran Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 R tyres. Porsche reckons that increasing numbers of 911 GT3 customers are opting for the six-speed manual transmission. The reason for the record attempt? The new owners wanted to know how fast a 911 GT3 with a manual transmission would be on the Nordschleife. That's why we Porsche used this instead of the PDK variant which 'is significantly faster.' Porsche says that just over half of wingless GT3 Touring cars they sell have a manual transmission.
The Sun
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Porsche 911 GT3 secures Nürburgring record
Porsche has set a new benchmark at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with its latest 911 GT3 becoming the fastest production car fitted with a manual transmission to lap the legendary circuit. Behind the wheel of the record-setting vehicle was Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, who completed the 20.832km course in a remarkable 6 minutes and 56.294 seconds, eclipsing the previous best by more than nine and a half seconds. The achievement underscores Porsche's commitment to driver-focused engineering, particularly at a time when fully automated systems and dual-clutch gearboxes dominate the performance car landscape. This record is especially significant considering the vehicle was equipped with a traditional six-speed manual gearbox rather than the brand's quicker, seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission. The 911 GT3, fitted with the Weissach package, delivered a performance that exceeded its predecessor's PDK-assisted lap by 3.633 seconds, illustrating the substantial improvements made across key performance areas. Among the developments contributing to the enhanced pace were revisions to the suspension setup and chassis, largely influenced by insights gained from the more extreme 911 GT3 RS. The new model also features a revised gear ratio, shortened by eight per cent, which provides improved acceleration characteristics despite maintaining the same power output of 510PS. Track conditions during the record attempt were ideal, with ambient temperatures at 12°C and the asphalt warmed to 27°. The vehicle ran on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres – street-legal yet track-capable – with sizes 255/35 R20 at the front and 315/30 R21 at the rear, the same configuration used during the official lap of the earlier GT3 model. This attempt was conducted under notarial supervision to validate the timing, and the focus was clear from the outset: to demonstrate the true potential of the manual transmission variant. Porsche engineers had closely analysed the current lap leaderboard, noting that the previous record holder completed the shorter 20.6 km version of the circuit in 7 minutes and 1.300 seconds. When translated to the full track, that performance equated to approximately 7 minutes and 5.800 seconds – a target the new GT3 surpassed with confidence. Andreas Preuninger, who leads Porsche's GT model development, explained that customer demand for manual variants has grown significantly. Many owners have expressed curiosity about the capabilities of a manual-equipped GT3 on the Nordschleife. Porsche's decision to pursue this lap time was, in part, a direct response to that enthusiasm. Although a PDK version would likely have been marginally quicker, the manual car's record lap showcased not only its competitive performance but also the rewarding engagement it offers. Bergmeister, reflecting on his experience, noted that the car was noticeably more stable over undulations and kerbs, inspiring confidence and allowing for higher cornering speeds. He added that the effort required to manage gear changes manually made the lap all the more exhilarating. With this new lap time, the Porsche 911 GT3 has not only reclaimed a coveted title but also reaffirmed its role as a modern-day performance icon – one that embraces tradition without compromising on technological advancement. The manual transmission, far from being obsolete, continues to provide a visceral and rewarding experience that resonates with purists and enthusiasts alike.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche 911 GT3 is the fastest manual car at the Nurburgring
The Porsche 911 GT3 is now the fastest manual car to lap the Nürburgring, beating the previous record-holder by nearly 10 seconds. Porsche has sent the recently updated '992.2' around the Nordschleife – with ambassador and ex-racer Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel – in 6min 56.294sec. That's not only 3.6sec quicker than the pre-facelift 992 with a PDK automatic gearbox but also substantially quicker than the previous fastest manual car, the hardcore Dodge Viper ACR, which Porsche notes has a "significantly more powerful engine". The American supercar, with a 645bhp 8.4-litre V10, claimed its record lap time of 7min 1.3sec in 2017 - but that was around the shortened 20.6km circuit and corresponds to a time of 7min 5.8sec around the full-length 20.832km loop, according to Porsche. By that metric, the stick-shift GT3, with a 503bhp flat six, was 9.5sec faster around the Green Hell. The car used for the attempt was equipped with the Weissach Package – a £20k optional extra that brings a raft of weight-saving measures to shave 12kg over the standard GT3 – and was shod with sticky (but still road-legal) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 R tyres. Andreas Preuninger, who runs Porsche's GT division, said: "More and more 911 GT3 customers 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. We have now answered this question and, although we know that the variant with PDK is significantly faster, we drove our official lap time with a manual six-speed gearbox." Porsche told Autocar that just under a quarter of standard GT3s are ordered with a manual gearbox in the UK, while just over half of wingless GT3 Touring orders are manual. ]]>
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche's Latest 911 GT3 Is Now the Quickest Stick Shift Car Around the 'Ring
Stop me if you've heard this one before: a variant of the Porsche 911 GT3 just set a new record around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The latest honor for Porsche's rear-engined masterpiece is the title of fastest manual transmission-equipped car to ever lap the 'Ring, an honor it won by more than 9.5 seconds. The manual GT3, which was equipped with the Weissach Package, lapped the track in six minutes and 56.294 seconds. Porsche says that this corresponds to a time of 6:51.764 on the shorter layout used in some other lap records, suggesting that the 911 GT3 was nearly 10 seconds ahead of the existing manual record of 7:01.3 set by a Dodge Viper ACR in 2017. The lap was set by Jörg Bergmeister, a former Porsche factory sports car driver who often does record runs for the brand on the 'Ring. Although the manual GT3's lap was slower than the 6:49.328 lap time put down by a PDK-equipped GT3 RS in 2022, it beats a PDK-equipped pre-update 992 GT3 by 3.7 seconds. Porsche did not add any power between the 992.1 and 992.2 sub-generations, so it attributes the quicker performance of the upgraded car to chassis development. In addition, Michelin outfitted the car in Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N1s for the record run. Modern tires are no small contributor to the car's impressive performance, as Michelin illustrated in December: different tires from the Pilot Sport Cup 2 family were recently fitted to a Carrera GT for another 'Ring lap more than 20 years after the car's debut. That experiment ended with a lap 14 seconds quicker than the supercar's original record blast. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Attention Porsche 911 GT3 RS owners: your new (Michelin) shoes have arrived
The world might be showing signs of heating up, but the engineers and Porsche and Michelin are laser focused on places where things are cooling down. And that's great news for anyone with a ferocious Porsche 911 GT3 RS parked in their garage. Whether we're talking typically chillier countries in the northern hemisphere or simply locales that are seeing more rain, owners of Porsche's top track beast in both locations will benefit from a new tire that has been developed jointly by the fabled German automaker and French tire the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5, the new tire is specifically aimed at giving GT3 drivers even more confidence in colder, wetter track conditions, surpassing the already prodigious capabilities of Michelin's perennially popular warm-weather/hot track tire, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 R. Put another way, if you were ticked off because bad weather caused your GT3 to spend far too much time parked, your new rubber shoes have arrived. 'We are responding to demand from our particularly performance-focused customers who have expressed a desire to spend more time on track during spring and fall,' Andreas Preuninger, Porsche's director of GT vehicles, said in a statement. 'The new tires significantly increase the annual operating window of the 911 GT3 RS.'Development of the Pilot Sport S 5 started back in 2022 at Michelin's proving ground in Ladoux, France. Porsche brand ambassador and retired racer Jörg Bergmeister was charged with helping create a tire that stretched the GT3's impressive envelope in particularly wet conditions. That partnership led to a tread pattern featuring four large central grooves with a 7.4-millimeter depth. This pattern helps evacuate heat more efficiently and reduces the instances of hydroplaning that are typical when summer tires are forced to battle the rain. According to Porsche, 'a high proportion of silica in the rubber compound further improves the grip on wet surfaces and supports the tire getting to temperature faster,' adding that the ideal exterior temperature for the new tire is between roughly 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to Michelin's Pilot Sport Cup 2 R which is best utilized in the 60 to 86-degree range. Bergmeister notes in a statement that 'in wet conditions and low ambient temperature, the (Pilot Sport S 5) offers outstanding levels of control and predictability when changing direction,' which are comforting words for anyone who has spent time at speed on a wet tests conducted by Porsche at the 1.7-mile Michelin track revealed that in wet conditions, the 911 GT3 RS equipped with the new S 5 tire logged a lap time that was 10 seconds faster than the same car shod with Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Porsche and Michelin also tested the new product on dry weather tracks at the Nürburgring in Germany and Portimão in Portugal, where temperatures were around 68 degrees. The companies found that the S 5 tires provided comforting levels of control and grip, which is critical given that many GT3 RS owners use their cars both on and off the track. The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0 (the 'N' being the long-standing designation of a Porsche-approved tire) will initially be available in one size: 275/35 ZR 20 for the front and 335/30 ZR 21 for the rear. While pricing is not yet available, you can find information and availability details at your nearest Porsche dealership. Now take that GT3 RS out of the garage and go play. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
