In front of 352,000 spectators: BLACK FALCON secures a top-10 finish and three class victories at the Nürburgring 24-hour race
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With a total of eight cars, BLACK FALCON took on the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring and, in front of a record crowd of 352,000 spectators, secured three class victories, two second places and a third place, as well as a top-10 finish in the overall standings. The Porsche 911 GT3 R from 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON crossed the finish line in tenth place overall at the season’s major highlight, in a packed field of 161 cars, and won the PRO-AM classification in the SP9 class. Furthermore, the BLACK FALCON Team EAE celebrated a commanding victory in the SP9 AM. In the CUP2 class, the team from Meuspath even recorded a one-two finish – here, the BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN took the win, whilst Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON secured second place. The impressive team result was rounded off by second place for the BMW M4 GT4 from AV Racing by BLACK FALCON in the SP10 AM category, as well as third place for Team BLACK FALCON in the CUP3 AM. In the end, the BLACK FALCON drivers brought seven out of eight cars home, a dream result in a spectacular and extremely demanding race.
48 LOSCH Motorsport by Black FALCON
Following an exciting start to the season at the Adenauer Racing Day, where the #48 Porsche 911 GT3 R from 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON proved a hugely popular photo opportunity and the driver quartet of Daan Arrow, Patrick Assenheimer, Tobias Müller and Dylan Pereira were in high demand for selfies and autographs from enthusiastic fans, things got really serious on the track for the first time during Friday’s ‘Top Qualifying’. In the first session, for which 49 cars were eligible to start (all cars from SP9, AT1, SPX and SP-PRO), 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON secured 15th place overall with a lap time of 8:17.093 minutes, thereby qualifying for the second session of the Top 20. Although they narrowly missed out on a place in the third TOP Qualifying session during the subsequent time trial, their starting position as the fourth-fastest PRO-AM car and 20th on the grid in an extremely competitive field was, on balance, very solid.
Throughout the race, Arrow, Assenheimer, Müller and Pereira steadily worked their way up the field and took the lead in the SP9 PRO-AM class with the #48 Porsche 911 GT3 R, a position they successfully defended right to the finish. This was down to a flawless, controlled performance from the drivers as well as flawless pit stops by the BLACK FALCON crew. Tenth place in the overall standings underlines the strong performance of 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON, for whom this was their first GT3 outing at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. At last year’s season highlight, they had celebrated an impressive start-to-finish victory in the CUP2 class with a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup.
BLACK FALCON Team EAE
In the SP9 AM class, BLACK FALCON Team EAE remains unbeaten this season, even after the 24-hour race. Following three victories in the NLS and the 24h Qualifiers, there was no getting past Mustafa Mehmet Kaya, Gabriele Piana and Mike Stursberg in the 24-hour race either, with Thomas Kiefer providing support at the season’s 24-hour highlight. Securing pole position in the SP9 AM class, the driver line-up put themselves in a strong starting position after the first session of the top qualifying.
In the race, they built on this strong performance and were comfortably in the lead by the midway point, when contact to the front axle necessitated a replacement of the entire steering gear, setting the team back by two laps. With a tremendous driving effort, the BLACK FALCON Team EAE fought their way back to the front and, in the #5 Porsche 911 GT3 R, ultimately secured not only 20th place in the overall standings but also the prestigious SP9 AM class victory.
In the SP9 AM class, BLACK FALCON Team EAE remains unbeaten this season, even after the 24-hour race. Following three victories in the NLS and the 24h Qualifiers, there was no getting past Mustafa Mehmet Kaya, Gabriele Piana and Mike Stursberg in the 24-hour race either, with Thomas Kiefer providing support at the season’s 24-hour highlight. Securing pole position in the SP9 AM class, the driver line-up put themselves in a strong starting position after the first session of the top qualifying.
In the race, they built on this strong performance and were comfortably in the lead by the midway point, when contact to the front axle necessitated a replacement of the entire steering gear, setting the team back by two laps. With a tremendous driving effort, the BLACK FALCON Team EAE fought their way back to the front and, in the #5 Porsche 911 GT3 R, ultimately secured not only 20th place in the overall standings but also the prestigious SP9 AM class victory.
BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN
BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN had an extremely dramatic and incredibly bitter start to the weekend. Shortly after the start of the first qualifying session on Thursday, the #900 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup was involved in an accident in which the rear of the car caught fire and was irreparably damaged. However, the team did not give up and, with tireless dedication, quickly built a replacement car, which was provided to BLACK FALCON by a long-standing customer and friend of the team. By the second qualifying session, drivers Alexander Hardt, Benjamin Hites, Benjamin Koslowski and Paul Meijer were back behind the wheel and, on Saturday afternoon – naturally sporting full ZIMMERMANN livery – took part in the 24-hour race. The hard work of the BLACK FALCON mechanics was rewarded with a class victory in CUP2 following a furious comeback. Having missed the first qualifying session, Alexander Hardt, Benjamin Hites, Benjamin Koslowski and Paul Meijer started the race from eleventh in class and 97th overall, but worked their way consistently up the field thanks to a perfect team strategy and a strong performance from the quartet of drivers. The quartet of drivers had already taken the lead in their class on Saturday evening and held on to it right until the finish. They also secured a more than respectable 18th place in the overall standings – a fantastic achievement that gives the BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN a huge confidence boost for the rest of the NLS season, in which they aim to compete for the championship title in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (PETN).
BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN had an extremely dramatic and incredibly bitter start to the weekend. Shortly after the start of the first qualifying session on Thursday, the #900 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup was involved in an accident in which the rear of the car caught fire and was irreparably damaged. However, the team did not give up and, with tireless dedication, quickly built a replacement car, which was provided to BLACK FALCON by a long-standing customer and friend of the team. By the second qualifying session, drivers Alexander Hardt, Benjamin Hites, Benjamin Koslowski and Paul Meijer were back behind the wheel and, on Saturday afternoon – naturally sporting full ZIMMERMANN livery – took part in the 24-hour race. The hard work of the BLACK FALCON mechanics was rewarded with a class victory in CUP2 following a furious comeback. Having missed the first qualifying session, Alexander Hardt, Benjamin Hites, Benjamin Koslowski and Paul Meijer started the race from eleventh in class and 97th overall, but worked their way consistently up the field thanks to a perfect team strategy and a strong performance from the quartet of drivers. The quartet of drivers had already taken the lead in their class on Saturday evening and held on to it right until the finish. They also secured a more than respectable 18th place in the overall standings – a fantastic achievement that gives the BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN a huge confidence boost for the rest of the NLS season, in which they aim to compete for the championship title in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (PETN).
Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON
Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON made a strong debut at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, securing a one-two finish for BLACK FALCON in the CUP2 class. Starting from fifth on the grid, Ryan Harrison, Raphael Rennhofer and Leon Wassertheurer took the class lead in the #902 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup within the first hour of the race and racked up numerous laps in the lead during their 24-hour debut.
Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON made a strong debut at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, securing a one-two finish for BLACK FALCON in the CUP2 class. Starting from fifth on the grid, Ryan Harrison, Raphael Rennhofer and Leon Wassertheurer took the class lead in the #902 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup within the first hour of the race and racked up numerous laps in the lead during their 24-hour debut.
Unfortunately, the 2025 24-hour CUP2 class winner, Noah Nagelsdiek, had to withdraw from the race at short notice due to illness, which placed a huge physical strain on the three youngsters, who each drove an average of eight hours. In the end, after 24 hours, the LIQUI MOLY trio secured second place in their class, making it onto the podium in their very first year – a magnificent result, which was further crowned by 19th place in the overall standings – an enormous success for the fledgling team, given that almost 40 GT3 cars had started the race.
AV Racing by BLACK FALCON
Following a string of highly successful performances so far this season on the Nordschleife, AV Racing by BLACK FALCON aimed to make history at the Nürburgring 24-hour race with the #180 BMW M4 GT4 EVO and secure the first-ever class victory for an all-American driver line-up. In qualifying, Judson Holt, Dave Ogburn, Denny Stripling and Charles Russell Turner laid the perfect foundation for this by securing pole position in the SP10 AM class, impressively demonstrating that they were capable of winning on their own merits. The four fast drivers also led the field for much of the race, until an accident in the Hatzenbach sector shortly after midnight shattered their dream of a class victory. Nevertheless, the team did not give up and was able to resume the race after a pit stop for repairs. With second place in the SP10 AM class, the quartet of drivers were ultimately able to celebrate a podium finish, which once again impressively underlines the Texans’ strong performance. In 2027, they hope to make another attempt to realise the “American dream”.
Following a string of highly successful performances so far this season on the Nordschleife, AV Racing by BLACK FALCON aimed to make history at the Nürburgring 24-hour race with the #180 BMW M4 GT4 EVO and secure the first-ever class victory for an all-American driver line-up. In qualifying, Judson Holt, Dave Ogburn, Denny Stripling and Charles Russell Turner laid the perfect foundation for this by securing pole position in the SP10 AM class, impressively demonstrating that they were capable of winning on their own merits. The four fast drivers also led the field for much of the race, until an accident in the Hatzenbach sector shortly after midnight shattered their dream of a class victory. Nevertheless, the team did not give up and was able to resume the race after a pit stop for repairs. With second place in the SP10 AM class, the quartet of drivers were ultimately able to celebrate a podium finish, which once again impressively underlines the Texans’ strong performance. In 2027, they hope to make another attempt to realise the “American dream”.
The sister car, the #177 BMW M4 GT4 EVO driven by Malcom Harrison, Sergiu Nicolae, Mark Smith and Alexandru Vasilescu, finished fifth in the SP10 PRO-AM class following a consistently strong performance. Much like their team-mates, the drivers experienced various ups and downs over the weekend, as contact with another car, followed by a lengthy repair stop, prevented them from achieving an even better result. Nevertheless, AV Racing by BLACK FALCON brought both BMW M4 GT4s home after 24 hours of racing, which was anything but a foregone conclusion given the difficult conditions and the many retirements in the field.
Team BLACK FALCON
The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring also proved a great success for the #939 Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 CS, with which BLACK FALCON competed in the CUP3 class – a field that was extremely competitive with 17 cars. Alexander Kroker, Anton Ruf, Axel Sartingen and Nils Schwenk qualified the car in fifth place on the grid within the CUP3 AM category. During the race, the four drivers fought their way up to seventh place in the class and third place in the CUP3 AM category with a flawless drive, reaping the rewards of their strong performance.
The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring also proved a great success for the #939 Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 CS, with which BLACK FALCON competed in the CUP3 class – a field that was extremely competitive with 17 cars. Alexander Kroker, Anton Ruf, Axel Sartingen and Nils Schwenk qualified the car in fifth place on the grid within the CUP3 AM category. During the race, the four drivers fought their way up to seventh place in the class and third place in the CUP3 AM category with a flawless drive, reaping the rewards of their strong performance.
BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC
BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC made a big impression right from the start in qualifying. Manuel Metzger, who secured overall victory in the 24-hour race with the BLACK FALCON Team exactly ten years ago, not only placed the #632 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup at the very front of the AT2 class, but was also faster than the entire CUP2 field. The Nordschleife veteran also impressed in the race alongside his fellow drivers Jimmy Broadbent, Steve Brown and Misha Charoudin. The quartet of drivers led the AT2 class comfortably throughout and remained within the top four in the highly competitive CUP2 field. However, after crashing into the tyre barriers at the Wehrseifen section of the track at around three o’clock in the morning, the car had to be withdrawn from the race due to significant bodywork damage, meaning the drivers’ strong performance went unrewarded this year. The quartet of drivers has vowed to finally secure the coveted 24-hour class victory for the 2027 24-hour race.
BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC made a big impression right from the start in qualifying. Manuel Metzger, who secured overall victory in the 24-hour race with the BLACK FALCON Team exactly ten years ago, not only placed the #632 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup at the very front of the AT2 class, but was also faster than the entire CUP2 field. The Nordschleife veteran also impressed in the race alongside his fellow drivers Jimmy Broadbent, Steve Brown and Misha Charoudin. The quartet of drivers led the AT2 class comfortably throughout and remained within the top four in the highly competitive CUP2 field. However, after crashing into the tyre barriers at the Wehrseifen section of the track at around three o’clock in the morning, the car had to be withdrawn from the race due to significant bodywork damage, meaning the drivers’ strong performance went unrewarded this year. The quartet of drivers has vowed to finally secure the coveted 24-hour class victory for the 2027 24-hour race.
Results at a glance
- #48 – LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON: 10th (overall), 1st (SP9 PRO-AM)
- #900 – BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN: 18th (overall), 1st (CUP2)
- #902 – Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON: P19 (overall), P2 (CUP2)
- #5 – BLACK FALCON Team EAE: P20 (overall), P1 (SP9 AM)
- #939 – Team BLACK FALCON: P3 (CUP3 AM)
- #180 – AV Racing by BLACK FALCON: P2 (SP10 AM)
- #177 – AV Racing by BLACK FALCON: P5 (SP10 PRO-AM)
- #632 – BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC: DNF
Voices after the race
Alexander Böhm (Managing Director and Founder of BLACK FALCON): “This was BLACK FALCON’s twenty-first 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, and by far the greatest challenge in our team’s history. In addition to the eight cars we fielded, there were the two FOUR MOTORS Porsches, for which BLACK FALCON was responsible for the technical preparation. Including these, nine out of ten cars crossed the finish line without technical problems; had it not been for the impact involving #632, it would probably have been ten out of ten. This is a tremendous success for the entire technical and pit crew, who put in a tremendous performance during the race. My heartfelt thanks go to them, as well as to the logistics team and the entire tyre crew, who had to overcome enormous challenges due to the changing conditions. Our catering and organisational staff achieved a truly incredible feat: over 1,300 day visitors and around 120 team members were catered for in our lounges and the pits. With the new BLACK FALCON Track Lounge and the BLACK FALCON Village, we have created a spectacular event arena – complete with accommodation – covering almost 4,000 m² within the GP circuit; a magnificent milestone for which all staff in the organisation, the kitchen, the service team and the shuttle service have gone above and beyond. To all of them goes my utmost respect and my heartfelt gratitude. Last but not least, my special thanks go to our fantastic riders and partners, without whom such a memorable event would not have been possible.”
Christoph Henkel (Managing Director of BLACK FALCON): “The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring was once again an incredibly emotional experience for us this year. We experienced many highs, and a few lows too, which the whole team overcame with flying colours thanks to their incredible team spirit and dedication. Every member of the team – from the organisers, the catering staff and the guest relations team right through to our pit crew and the drivers – did an excellent job and contributed to these successes. To finish on the podium at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with six of the eight cars we entered makes me incredibly proud. A special thank you goes once again to our mechanics, who completed every single repair in record time. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners, guests, staff and helpers who made this incredible weekend possible.”
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