NLS7: BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC returns to the Nordschleife

Just over two months after their Nürburgring 24 Hours ended in the barriers at Wehrseifen, BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC returned to the Nordschleife for the six-hour ADAC Ruhr Cup Race, the seventh round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie.

The race marked the beginning of the decisive final phase of the NLS season, and a new challenge in sweltering conditions before the double-header in September.

For BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC, however, one of the biggest achievements came before the green flag.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup sustained significant damage during the team's Nürburgring 24 Hours accident. BLACK FALCON spent weeks rebuilding the car, replacing the complete front structure and straightening the chassis before it was ready to race again.

Although the team found itself as the only AT2 entry after its usual class rival was also unable to repair its car following their own 24 Hour crash, there was still plenty to fight for against the large field of Porsche Cup cars.

Manuel Metzger immediately demonstrated the pace of the rebuilt car by qualifying third fastest of all Cup cars.

Metzger took the opening stint, picking up minor contact early in the race but keeping the Porsche firmly in contention.

Misha Charoudin then faced what he described as his toughest stint of the season. With the highest temperatures the team has experienced all year, tire management became a constant challenge as grip faded and overheating tires made every lap increasingly demanding. Despite several close calls in heavy traffic, he kept the car moving forward.

The earlier contact was suspected to have affected the car's alignment, which may have contributed to a rear right puncture, cutting Jimmy Broadbent's stint short with around three hours remaining.

The slow journey back to the pits cost approximately five minutes, ending any realistic chance of challenging further up the order.

Despite the puncture and carrying the scars of a demanding six-hour race, BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC recovered to finish fifth among all Porsche Cup cars and 20th overall from a field of 134 starters.

While the AT2 class victory came without direct opposition, the overall result demonstrated the pace of both the rebuilt car and the driver lineup against a highly competitive Cup field.

The team now turns its attention to the NLS double-header, where AT2 competition is expected to return:

• September 12: NLS8, 65. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen (4h)
• September 13: NLS9, 58. ADAC Barbarossapreis (4h)