VLN, Nürburgring 24h and Blancpain Endurance Series 2016

In 2016, the GT3 category represents one of the highest levels of GT racing worldwide. If you had to name one track that pushes your drivers, cars and team to the limit, then it would have to be Germany’s legendary Nürburgring. Combine the two, and you have the focus for BLACK FALCON GT in 2016.

Fresh from the team’s podium finish at the season-opening Dubai 24 Hours in the Middle East, BLACK FALCON GT are gearing up for another packed European season, a relentless eight months of motorsport competition that will take in the equivalent length of an incredible 50 Formula 1 Grand Prix. The team’s schedule includes the Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring (VLN) and Blancpain Endurance Series (BES) along with the enormous challenge of the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race at the Nordschleife.

The VLN series comprises 10 rounds held on the 26km of tight and twisting track that is the Nürburgring Nordschleife, each hosted by a different German motoring organisation. The races can comprise up to 200 cars spread across 20 classes, and sees basic racing saloons and even diesels mixing it with high-powered GT3s – which makes the challenge for BLACK FALCON GT’s trio of brand new Mercedes AMG GT3s even harder. The BES features the world’s top GT teams, competing at famous tracks around Europe in a season that includes the iconic Spa 24 Hours.

2016 has seen a slew of new GT3 machinery revealed by teams, and BLACK FALCON GT are no exception. With the experience of the Dubai 24 Hours under their belts, the team will enter three new Mercedes AMG GT3s in VLN and the Nürburging 24 plus another two in the BES.

BLACK FALCON GT have been part of the AMG Customer Sports programme since the beginning, but are also now designated as an AMG Performance team. BLACK FALCON GT are also continuing their strong partnerships with Fuchs Oil and Pagid brake pads, whilst also stepping up their long-term collaboration with Bilstein. The technical collaboration will be represented by one of BLACK FALCON GT’s AMG GT3 carrying the iconic Bilstein livery in 2016.

Three AMG GT3s have been confirmed for VLN 1 and 2, as well as the ADAC 6 Hour qualifying race and Nürburgring 24 Hours. Yelmer Buurman (Netherlands), Nico Bastian (Germany), Hubert Haupt (Germany) and Dirk Müller (Germany) crew one AMG GT3, with Adam Christodoulou (United Kingdom), Bernd Schneider (Germany), Manuel Metzger (Germany) and Maro Engel (Germany) in a second car. The AMG GT3 of Abdulaziz Al Faisal (Saudi Arabia), Gerwin Schuring (Netherlands) and Indy Dontje (Netherlands) will be tackling the entire VLN season.

BLACK FALCON GT have two full season entries in the BES, one in Pro and one in Pro Am. Hubert Haupt (Germany), Adam Christodoulou (United Kingdom) and Andreas Simonsen (Sweden) drive the Pro entry, whilst Oliver Morley (United Kingdom), Miguel Toril (Spain) and Maro Engel (Germany) helm the Pro Am car.

Follow BLACK FALCON GT via Twitter at twitter.com/TeamBlackFalcon to get live action updates as the season unfolds.

RACE DATES

VLN 2016

• VLN 1: 2 April (ADAC Westfalenfahrt)
• VLN 2: 30 April (DMV 4-Stunden-Rennen)
• VLN 3: 14 May (ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup)
• VLN 4: 25 June (Adenauer ADAC Deutsche Payment-Trophy)
• VLN 5: 16 July (ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen)
• VLN 6: 20 August (RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen)
• VLN 7: 3 September (ROWE 6 Stunden ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen)
• VLN 8: 24 September (ADAC Barbarossapreis)
• VLN 9: 8 October (DMV 250-Meilen-Rennen)
• VLN 10: 22 October (DMV Münsterlandpokal)

Nürburgring 24 Hours

• ADAC 6-Hour Qualifying Race: 16-17 April
• ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race: 26-29 May

Blancpain Endurance Series

• Testing: 9-10 March (Paul Ricard)
• Round 1: 23-25 April (Monza)
• Round 2: 14-15 May (Silverstone)
• Round 3: 24-25 June (Paul Ricard)
• Round 4: 28-31 July (Spa 24 Hours)
• Round 5: 17-18 September(Nürburgring)