BLACK FALCON delivers strong team performance at VLN8

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VLN Endurance Championship - Race Report Round 8

BLACK FALCON experienced a race day full of highs and lows at the penultimate race of the endurance championship at the Nürburgring on Saturday with perfect weather conditions. Despite some setbacks during the four-hour race distance, the team from Meuspath was able to celebrate an overall podium, two class victories, several podium places and two championship titles.

BLACK FALCON Team AutoArena Motorsport / Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON
At the top of the field the BLACK FALCON Team AutoArena Mercedes-AMG GT3 #6, driven by Patrick Assenheimer (DE) and Manuel Metzger (DE), fought for the win for a long time. A combination of a lot of bad luck with Code 60 periods and a problem during a pit stop threw the duo back to fourth place. After an exclusion of the runner-up, number 6 moved up to third overall after the finish. The second BLACK FALCON AMG GT3, a Mercedes-AMG GT3 (#54) developed for the 2020 season, made its successful race debut on the Nordschleife with Yelmer Buurman (DE) Luca Stolz (DE). Due to the regulations, the car started from last place in the first starting group as part of the test run (SPX class) and had to meet a 30-second increase in the minimum standing-time during pit stops. Despite these handicaps Buurman and Stolz advanced to eighth place in the overall standings and won the SPX class.

BLACK FALCON Team IDENTICA
For the BLACK FALCON Team IDENTICA the race started with a shock: The Mercedes-AMG GT4 #162, which is fighting for the championship in the SP10 class, was involved in a start accident through no fault of its own. The resulting race interruption with the red flag allowed a repair in the pits, which was completed in time for the restart thanks to a great performance by the mechanics. Tobias Müller (DE), Tim Scheerbarth (DE) and Tristan Viidas (EE) battled their way to second place in the second attempt and have the championship decision at VLN9 in their own hands.

BLACK FALCON Team TEXTAR
In the SP7 class Peter Ludwig (US), double starter Manuel Metzger and "Takis" (CH) started for the first time with the redesigned Porsche 991 GT3 Cup MR2 #57 for the BLACK FALCON Team TEXTAR. The trio rewarded themselves and the team with victory in the SP7 class after a great race to catch up from position six on the grid and a flawless race. Alexander Akimenkov (RU), Ronny Lethmate (DE) and Vasilii Selivanov (RU) took another podium place for the BLACK FALCON Team TEXTAR. The drivers of the Porsche 991 Carrera #395 crossed the finish line as runners-up in the V6 class and after a great season with four wins so far and currently three second places, they secured the championship title in the class early. In the sister car, the Porsche 991 Carrera #394, Uwe Lebens (DE) and Michael Lindmayer (DE) drove a flawless race and were waved off in fifth place after their first race together.

BLACK FALCON Team Knuffi
Thanks to Christoph Hoffmann (DE), Miguel Toril (ES) and Tobias Wahl (DE), the BLACK FALCON Team Knuffi was able to celebrate a podium finish in the SP8T class. The trio finished third after a flawless performance in the Mercedes-AMG GT4 #155. Their teammates Mustafa Mehmet Kaya (TR), Stephan Rösler (DE) and Gabriele Piana (IT) were leading for a long time with their sister car, the AMG GT4 #152. An incident cost the trio a few minutes, so that they finished fifth. In spite of the missed victory, Knuffi regular driver Kaya is unbeatable in front in the SP8T class and can be proud of his early win of the SP8T championship.

The grand season finale of the VLN Endurance Championship will take place on the last Saturday in October (26.10.). BLACK FALCON fights for the championship in the classes SP9-Pro, SP10 as well as the VLN Speed Trophy and the production car category. An exciting end to the season is guaranteed.

Comments on the race

Sean Paul Breslin (Team Manager BLACK FALCON GT): "We had a lot of bad luck with the #6. Partly we made mistakes. We are therefore disappointed that it wasn't enough to win the fourth race of the season. On the other hand, the new AMG GT3 passed its test on the Nordschleife with flying colours.  At VLN9 we're going to attack again and give everything to finish the season with the best possible result".

Timo Frings (Team Manager BLACK FALCON Customer Racing): "Many thanks to our team! The guys have almost worked through from Friday to Saturday to prepare the Cup MR perfectly for the race. In return they have been rewarded with the victory in the SP7. They also kept a cool head after the accident of the IDENTICA AMG GT4 and repaired the car in no time at all. Thanks to the constant pressure we were able to conquer second place shortly before the end of the race and therefore still have every chance in the battle for the championship in the SP10. Furthermore, the entire BLACK FALCON team congratulates our drivers Mustafa Mehmet Kaya, Alexander Akimenkov, Ronny Lethmate and Vasilii Selivanov on winning the titles in the respective classes!"

Further information about the BLACK FALCON team is available daily on the team's social media channels:

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