I use a DS2 and manual transmission on the NTSC (North American) version of the game.
This run is currently the fastest in the world, according to the GTRP database. However, I suspect some sort of advantage for NTSC users in this mission, because I am not better than holl01 (who has a 17.946). It is very nearly dirty, but as far as I can tell, abides by standard OLR (online racing) cleanliness rules: No contact of walls or AI; two wheels on (or above if they are airborne) the track, which includes rumble strips and concrete or asphalt runoff areas, at all times.