Falken Motorports double at NLS 6; Mustang in P3

NLS

Aug 17

Both Falken Motorports Porsche 911 GT3 R clinched their second double this season in the shortened sixth round of the of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Haupt Racing Team claims overall podium with the Ford Mustang GT3. The only three SP6 PRO GT3s (both Falken Motorsports Porsches and Haupt Racing Team For Mustang) ended the race in front of 104 entries from various classes.

Fog delays qualifying and shortens race

Like last year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race, a dense fog was covering the Nürburgring delaying any race action. The qualifying session due at 8:30 was postponed at 12:00 and shortened to 40 minutes. The sky was not completely clear, but each marshal post was at least able to see the one before and after it.

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R #4 and #48 Black Falcon Porsche in front row during formation lap.

Nico Menzel in the #4 Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R took pole position with Dan Arrow in the #48 Black Falcon Porsche second. Both started from front row. The #6 Ford Mustang GT3 was 15th overall.

Stippler challenges the Falken Porsches

The race could eventually start at 14:00 for 4,5 hours instead of the 6 programmed.

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R #4 and #48 Black Falcon Porsche in front at turn 1; Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R #3 in P6 hidden behind a couple of CUP2 Porsches, #6 Ford Mustang jumps from P15 to P8.

Marschall in the #4 Falken Porsche took quickly distance from Dan Arrow in the #48 while Sven Müller in Falken sister #3 was charging forward to end lap 1 right on the back of Arrow’s #48. Frank Stippler in the #6 Ford Mustang had also a strong first lap moving up from 15th on the grid to fourth by the end of lap 1.

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: entering lap 2, at turn 1, #48 Black Falcon Porsche (second) in front of Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R #3 in P3 and #6 Ford Mustang in P4.

On lap 3, Stippler was head to head with Müller in the Mercedes Arena but had to wait the Döttinger Höhe straight to take him over for P3. In the first curve of lap 4, entering the Mercedes Arena, Stippler took Arrow over for P2.

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: entering lap 3, at turn 1, #6 Ford Mustang head to head with Porsche 911 GT3 R #3 for P3 (left); #6 Ford Mustang snatches P2 from #48 Porsche after lap 4 turn 1.

Frank Stippler was the only racer to challenge both Falken Porsches, even setting a faster lap time then both Porsches during laps 6 and 7 so that Stippler did catch up to Marschall and took him over on the Döttinger Höhe straight to enter lap 8 as leader.

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: Frank Stippler leading NLS 6 with #6 Ford Mustang GT3.

The Ford Mustang GT3 entered the pit lane first but a 20 second slower pit stop saw the leading Ford back in P3. Kolb taking over from Stippler in #6 Ford Mustang GT3, driving his stint 15 to 20 seconds slower than the leading Porsches, saw the gap increasing lap by lap still keeping his P3.

Pit stop enables Bachler/Müller to win

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: During many laps one saw Falken Motorsports #3 Porsche 911 GT3 R in the bumper of sister #4.

Both Falken Motorsports #4 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Marschall - Menzel and sister #3 with Bachler - Müller lead the race from the second hour till the end with #3 generally in the bumper of #4.

During the last half hour racing, Bachler - Müller did spend 22 seconds less in the pits than Menzel - Marschal as they stopped one lap later to take Porsche #3 third win of the season.

📷 Luc Warnotte at NLS 6: #3 Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R win its fourth NLS race this season with Bachler - Müller for NLS 6.

Falken Motorsports #4 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Marschall - Menzel end second.

#6 Ford Mustang GT3 with Kolb - Stippler - Assenheimer end third, 4:34.755 minutes behind the winning Porsche after the HRT crew had to change the front left brake pads.

FRANK STIPPLER: “We are in the process of developing the Ford Mustang GT3 to be perfect on the Nordschleife. It will certainly take some time, but we have made some great progress. The car's performance today was the best I have experienced so far, so I'm optimistic about the future."

PATRICK ASSENHEIMER: “After a morning of drama with fog and endless waiting, third place is a real reward. We are delighted that we are continuing to develop the Ford Mustang GT3 every time we are at the Nordschleife. The lap times and the performance of the team as well as of my colleagues were fantastic – many thanks to everyone!"

VINCENT KOLB: "Sensational result! The morning was a bit tough due to the long break. The Haupt Racing Team did a fantastic job, the Ford Mustang GT3 was great to drive today. And many thanks to Stippi and Patrick too – a really good trio."

NLS Speed-Trophy

With both Team FALKEN Motorsports Porsches scoring the double at NLS 6, #3 increases its lead in the Trophy and sister #4 overtakes the #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R Manthey EMA’s “Grello” thanks to the 28 points of P2 and 3 points of pole.