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Nürburgring Endurance

Black Falcon to Make GT3 Return with Porsche NLS Entry

Decorated former AMG affiliate Black Falcon to run Porsche 911 GT3 R in final two NLS races…

Photo: Black Falcon

Double Nürburgring 24 winner Black Falcon will return to the GT3 ranks at the final two rounds of this year’s NLS campaign with a Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The German squad is set to compete in the Nürburgring-based series’ top SP9 category for the first time since 2019 with Hendrik von Danwitz, Noah Nagelsdiek and Florian Naumann sharing the wheel at this weekend’s race and the season finale on October 9.

Black Falcon stepped back from top-level GT racing at the start of last year because of financial difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic, putting an end to its successful GT3 program running Mercedes-AMGs with extended factory support.

Several key staff members and resources from its GT3 effort transferred over to the newly-formed Haupt Racing Team which currently races in the DTM, NLS and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup with Mercedes-AMG.

Black Falcon’s Porsche entry for the final two NLS rounds will be fielded under the banner of its Team Identica initiative which aims to promote young racing talent.

The Black Falcon/Identica program was launched in 2018 and started off with a Mercedes-AMG GT4 entry before progressing to the more powerful SP-PRO class Porsche 911 GT3 Cup MR that the team has operated since last year.

“Since it was founded more than 15 years ago, promoting young talent has been an integral part of the Black Falcon philosophy,” said team principal Alexander Boehm.

“In addition to four VLN junior titles, Black Falcon was the first team ever to win the VLN championship title with junior drivers only.

“Adam Christodoulou, Manuel Metzger and Tobias Mueller are just three examples of the many drivers that we and our partners have been able to accompany on the way to becoming professional racing drivers.

“Identica and Black Falcon have enjoyed a successful partnership for four years. I am therefore particularly pleased that Black Falcon can make the return to the GT3 stage together with the Identica drivers.

“Noah, Florian and Hendrik have impressed with the Cup MR in the races of the season so far. We are more than excited about the first appearance of the 991 GT3 R in the Black Falcon Team Identica.”

Black Falcon won its first Nürburgring 24 in 2013 with Nicki Thiim, Bernd Schneider, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Sean Edwards sharing a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.

It earned a second overall victory at the Eifel enduro three years later with Schneider teaming up with Christodoulou, Metzger and Maro Engel.

Its stint with Mercedes also included winning the 24 Hours of Dubai five times and clinching the Blancpain GT Series (now Fanatec GTWC) Endurance Cup title in 2018.

Black Falcon’s GT3 return with its own Porsche is taking place in addition to its launch of an LMP3 program for this year’s Michelin Le Mans Cup season.

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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