Press
October, 19th, 2024 - Falken Motorsports has once again impressively demonstrated its dominance in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). Klaus Bachler and Alessio Picariello secured a superior victory in the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with starting number 3 and won the race with a lead of more than five minutes over the competition. This was the fifth victory for the Japanese tire brand. Joel Eriksson and Tim Heinemann, who competed in the sister car with starting number 4, had to settle for 11th place after an incident.
Bachler and Picariello laid the foundation for their success in qualifying. On a wet track, they secured pole position with a lap time of 9:28.375 minutes. Despite an accident in qualifying, the Falken team managed to repair the car in time for the start of the race. The sister car, driven by Eriksson and Heinemann, also shone in qualifying and secured second place on the grid.
In the race, the two Falken Porsches showed a strong performance right from the start and once again proved the performance of the Falken tires in difficult weather conditions. On a drying track, both cars pulled clear of the field on the first lap and finished the first lap with a lead of over 15 seconds.
The lead was extended over the course of the race until an incident 1.5 hours before the end of the race affected the race of the number 4 car. Tim Heinemann slid off the track in the Metzgesfeld section and slightly damaged the Porsche. Despite the setback, Heinemann managed to bring the car back to the pits, where it was quickly repaired by the Falken crew. In the end, however, it was only enough for 11th place overall.
Bachler and Picariello in the number 3 Porsche were unfazed by this incident and drove to a commanding victory. With a lead of 5:24 minutes over the second-placed Audi, they finished the race in the top spot on the podium.
In addition to the sporting performance, Falken Motorsports also showed social commitment away from the track. As part of the event, the Falken Drift Team offered spectacular cab rides in which spectators in the passenger seat could experience the fascination of drifting up close. The proceeds of 2,200 euros from this campaign will be donated to those affected by the explosion in the paddock during the last NLS race.
Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, the Offenbach-based subsidiary of Japanese tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., is once again demonstrating its commitment to the local community: the company is supporting this year's family festival in Offenbach with a support of €5,000.
Falken Tyre Europe GmbH had the great pleasure of welcoming its partners and customers from across southwestern Europe to the first in-person gathering of the ‘Falken Zone’, held yesterday evening. More than 200 companies from Spain, France, Italy, and Greece accepted the invitation to Palma de Mallorca to celebrate an important milestone with Falken: the fifth anniversary of the Falken Zone. The agenda features engaging meetings and events, providing the perfect opportunity for exchanging ideas and gaining new perspectives.
The 53rd edition of the ADAC RAVENOL 24-hour race at the Nürburgring was an event full of emotions – with a promising start for Falken Motorsports, an unprecedented race interruption, and a premature end for both Porsche 911 GT3 R.