One of the most prestigious races in the world and Team Black Falcon’s highlight event of the year is drawing closer. The 24 Hours of Nürburgring kicks off next weekend, and the German team aims to guard its title with its two Mercedes SLS AMG GT3s.
Drivers Jeroen Bleekemolen and Andreas Simonsen will defend the team’s colors once more, having also driven the Black Falcon Mercedes in 2013. However, in contrast to last year when each drove separate cars, the pair will share the same #1 Mercedes, and will be joined by Christian Menzel and Lance David Arnold.
The sister #14 SLS AMG GT3 will have Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman and Adam Christodoulou trading the wheel.
Team Black Falcon’s preparations for the 24-hour race have been in full swing during the past few months as the team took part in several preparatory races, including three rounds of the VLN Championship and the ADAC 6 Hour qualifying race. The first VLN round saw the team finish third overall, and while the third round’s fifth place finish was less satisfactory, having been running in second up until the final lap, Team Black Falcon struck back in the fourth and final preparatory race to cross the finish line in first position.
As always, the team’s aim is to emulate the performance it enjoyed during the fourth round of the VLN Championship and during the 2013 event, and claim an outright victory, successfully defending the title in the process.
Last year, Team Black Falcon‘s #9 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 emerged as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring victor after a chaotic race that saw a nine-hour red flag due to heavy rain and fog. The team and drivers overcame treacherous conditions to clinch a fantastic victory and gift Mercedes-Benz its first ever triumph at one of the toughest races on the planet.
The team enters the race this year without their dear friend and driver Sean Edwards who became the first Englishman to win the 24-Hour race when he crossed the chequered flag in 2013. In memory of Sean, the team continues to support the Sean Edwards Foundation and proudly displays the foundation’s logo on the car.
The 42nd 24 Hours of Nürburgring inaugurates with Practice and Qualifying 1 on Thursday, June 19, followed by Qualifying 2 and Top 30 Qualifying on Friday. A one-hour warm-up session kicks off Saturday’s proceedings, while the Race starts at 16:00 on the same day, to finish 24 hours later on Sunday.