BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC Battles the Green Hell at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours

The 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours delivered another unforgettable chapter in the history of endurance racing. A record crowd of 352,000 spectators packed the circuit across the event, drawn in large part by the participation of four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen.

While the battle for overall victory in the GT3 category provided plenty of drama, many fans were also following the progress of BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, driven by Manuel Metzger, Steve Alvarez Brown, Jimmy Broadbent, and Misha Charoudin.

Before the race had even begun, BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC had already made a statement. Manuel Metzger delivered an outstanding qualifying performance to put the Porsche on pole position in Group 2, setting a time quicker than the entire CUP2 field and securing a place directly behind the GT3 cars on the grid.

It was an impressive achievement on one of motorsport's most demanding circuits and a clear indication of the team's pace heading into the race.

The Nürburgring Nordschleife quickly lived up to its reputation. Crashes and mechanical failures claimed several leading contenders throughout the race, while the unpredictable Eifel weather added another layer of difficulty.

After Metzger completed a solid opening stint, Jimmy Broadbent took over just as one of many major incidents triggered a Code 60 slow zone. Despite repeated interruptions, Broadbent remained competitive against rival Cup cars.

Steve Alvarez Brown followed, navigating constant Code 60 periods and sharing the track with emergency vehicles responding to incidents around the circuit. During his stint, a series of crashes occurred between Wippermann and the Stefan Bellof-S after oil was dropped on the racing line. Among those caught out was Kévin Estre in the Manthey Racing GT3 Porsche. The source was later identified as the #320 Four Motors Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, one of our AT2-class rivals, which was forced into the pits for repairs.

Misha Charoudin's stint brought another challenge when a brake issue emerged. After nursing the car back to the pits, the team discovered that the front left brake disc had completely sheared away from its hub. A rapid repair limited the time loss to only a few minutes and the Porsche quickly returned to the race.

The weather then intervened. Heavy rain swept across parts of the circuit, forcing a switch to wet tires after a difficult spin in treacherous conditions.

As the race settled into the night, BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC continued to run strongly. However, during Steve Alvarez Brown's second stint, an ABS issue prevented the car from slowing effectively for the tight left-hander at Wehrseifen. The resulting impact caused terminal bodywork damage, bringing the team's race to an end at 3:00 AM.

Despite the disappointing outcome, BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC can be extremely proud of its performance at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The team comfortably led the AT2 class and remained inside the top four of the highly competitive CUP2 field throughout its race. Strong pace, quick repairs, and consistent driving demonstrated the potential of both the car and driver lineup.

The result may not reflect the performance shown throughout the event, but the team's ambitions remain unchanged. BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC has already vowed to return and fight for victory at the 2027 Nürburgring 24 Hours.