Press
The official Falken esports team has confirmed its driver line-up for the Falken 24h of Spa iRacing special event this weekend (July 21-23), as eight sim racers pilot a two-car effort around the iconic Belgian track.
British esports driver Jessie Jones, Australian racer Damon Woods and Germany’s Jonas Wanner and Jonas Rütten will pilot the first of two cars with Slovenia’s Jan Ternjak joining Lucas Müller, Ben Hitz and Tim Jarschel (all from Germany) in the second entry.
The drivers are no strangers to the twice-round-the-clock encounter, with Jonas Wanner, Ben Hitz and Lucas Müller having won the 2022 Spa 24H Split 1 (18:00 timeslot).
The online race, of which Falken is also the headline sponsor, comes hot on the heels of the real-world 24 Hours of Spa which took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps earlier this month – a track that is synonymous with intense competition and providing GT drivers with a supreme test of courage and skill.
The team is hoping to overcome a challenging start to its 2023 season, following DNFs in both the virtual 6h of Watkins Glen and 24h of Nürburgring after contact with another car at each event in the frenetic opening laps. “We’re hoping this will be our race,” says Dennis Wilstermann, Assistant Marketing Manager at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH. “We’ve learnt a lot in during our most recent races, and are bringing a two-car effort to the 24h race in a bid to bring home a podium position.
“Falken has been a constant in real-world racing for many years, and we hope to see that affiliation extend to sim racing too. That’s why we’re thrilled to extend our partnership with iRacing, through headline sponsorship of the Falken 24h of Spa iRacing special event.”
Lucas Müller, Team Captain of the Falken esports team, explains: “We’re feeling incredibly positive about the Falken 24h of Spa iRacing special event. We have a strong driver line-up and the Mercedes feels fast. We’re hoping for a clean race, and to put on a great show with the iconic blue and turquoise colours on the virtual racetrack. Let's make it a good one!”
Falken Tyre Europe GmbH is expanding its 4x4 tyre portfolio with the launch of the WILDPEAK R/T01 for demanding terrain – ensuring the manufacturer now has a tyre for every off-road application. Engineered with adventure in mind – and across the toughest of applications – the R/T01’s tread design and structure are intended to provide maximum performance on the most difficult terrain.
Falken’s latest film, "A Monument to the Art of Racing" has won the coveted International Motor Film Award in the category "Best Event Film" at this year’s prestigious ceremony.
Falken will be presenting its outstanding tyres for HGVs, light trucks and commercial vehicles at this year’s commercial vehicle trade show “NUFAM”, which will take place in Karlsruhe from 21 to 24 September 2023. With over 350 exhibitors and more than 23,000 trade visitors, NUFAM is one of the largest industry gatherings in Europe.