VLN and Nurburgring 24 hours

[J Jay]

Congratulations Audi on winning yet another endurance race.

So you don't have to win Le Mans this year, do you...

[Creep89]

Well another triple would be great, wouldn't it?

[Starfish Primer]

Endurance is that type of motorsport where more than 50 cars start and an Audi wins.

Great result for Falken too, good pace without errors. Is this team affected by the TUSCC withdrawal decision?

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

Endurance is that type of motorsport where more than 50 cars start and an Audi wins.

Great result for Falken too, good pace without errors. Is this team affected by the TUSCC withdrawal decision?

No, it's independent. I guess that doesn't preclude the sponsorship being suspended separately but there is no reason to expect it. Falken's been a sponsor at the N24 since well before they had any other sportscar involvement, backing the Nissan GTR that inhabited the Ring for many years before the Porsche. Falken is a race sponsor too, hence the branding on everyone's wheel arches. The #44 Porsche had a good run too, did them proud this year.

Audi was the class of the field, the BMW really seemed like it had the pace over 1 lap but the Audi was the best race car and that was pretty clear by half distance. If the Phoenix Audis hadn't been thrown at the scenery I think they would've had a crack at locking out the podium. A deserved win.

Have there been so many flash fuel fires in years past? I can't remember them, but living in the same time zone now I was able to watch much more of the daylight broadcast than normal.

[Starfish Primer]

Originally Posted by cmk

No, it's independent. I guess that doesn't preclude the sponsorship being suspended separately but there is no reason to expect it. Falken's been a sponsor at the N24 since well before they had any other sportscar involvement, backing the Nissan GTR that inhabited the Ring for many years before the Porsche. Falken is a race sponsor too, hence the branding on everyone's wheel arches. The #44 Porsche had a good run too, did them proud this year.

Audi was the class of the field, the BMW really seemed like it had the pace over 1 lap but the Audi was the best race car and that was pretty clear by half distance. If the Phoenix Audis hadn't been thrown at the scenery I think they would've had a crack at locking out the podium. A deserved win.

Have there been so many flash fuel fires in years past? I can't remember them, but living in the same time zone now I was able to watch much more of the daylight broadcast than normal.

Thanks, the Falken teams (US and EU) are usually better on long races. I´d love to see them in Le Mans.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

Anyone got a basic starting drivers list please?

I know I'm late to the party (never worked a race as hard as this one, holy **** snacks!), but if you're interested I've got that list for you.

[Rodger Davies]

Haha, appreciate it but no thanks, not to worry - I was just wondering who was in front of me. Look forward to seeing your stuff. I didn't see your number out and about, but not surprising with about 600 photo accreditations around!

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

Haha, appreciate it but no thanks, not to worry - I was just wondering who was in front of me. Look forward to seeing your stuff. I didn't see your number out and about, but not surprising with about 600 photo accreditations around!

600? You're sure that's not the total number of press accreditations? There were MANY photographers, but 600 seems a ***** much.

Where and when did you watch the race?

Also, for some photos check out the reports on www.gt-report.com of day one and two, and the race are coming. Here are a couple:



http://www.gt-report.com/wp-content/..._8052-copy.jpg

http://www.gt-report.com/wp-content/..._8555-copy.jpg

[Rodger Davies]

Nice one, thanks for the link, will keep an eye on it whilst I try to find time to soft through my photos. True, there might not have been 600, but because I was looking at the numbers on the bibs, the highest one I saw was #570, but that by no means means the preceding 569 numbers were taken!

[JHamilton]

What a mesmerizing race. The GT3 cars have so much downforce it almost looks like a video game.

[GT-Eins]

Here the full race result in our report:
http://gt-eins.de/Berichte2015/24h/n...dex.php?sec=re

[TF110]

Night time onboard video with the Lexus LFA Code X
http://youtu.be/7UqgvPQuXbs

[Miguel]

U vraagt, wij draaien: http://www.gt-report.com/2015/05/21/night-of-attrition/ Report on the race, bunch of photos, and multiple galleries coming over the weekend because we got too many too awesome shots in to not publish them.

For example:



N24 spirit!

[Miguel]

Gallery number one: http://www.gt-report.com/2015/05/22/...of-green-hell/



The late afternoon light at Pflanzgarten 3333333333

[Miguel]

Well, race 3 is in the books, and as tradition (and a clash with Blancpain GT as well) dictates the first race after the N24 saw a very meager field. Only 4 GT3's were entered, only 3 started and only one was fast enough to make the race not much more than a formality. Still, it turned out to be not as straight forward (but don't worry, Frikadelli still won).

If anyone wants to know and see more, check out my report: http://www.gt-report.com/2015/06/23/...porsche-party/

[rich07]

Thanks for the report Miguel-nice pics btw

I can't believe there was only 4 GT3 cars. That there was a lull after the N24 in GT3 numbers and clash with Blancpain doesn't help but 4? Wow that's quite a surprise. Besides Frikadelli who were the other 2 GT3?? (I saw an Audi and a Z4 in the startline pic but can't identify who from).

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by rich07

Thanks for the report Miguel-nice pics btw

I can't believe there was only 4 GT3 cars. That there was a lull after the N24 in GT3 numbers and clash with Blancpain doesn't help but 4? Wow that's quite a surprise. Besides Frikadelli who were the other 2 GT3?? (I saw an Audi and a Z4 in the startline pic but can't identify who from).

Two Walkenhorst Z4s and another Porsche from Manthey. The Audi was an SP8-class homebrew special.

Some good racing, though, from what I saw on the stream, especially between the Black Falcon 991 Cup and Frikadelli's GT-America for the win in SP7.

The whole thing actually had a bit of a retro feel: A lone Porsche disappearing in the distance and cars from 3 or 4 different classes scrapping for a top-5. Basically the way VLN always was before the advent of the GT3s.

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Well, race 3 is in the books, and as tradition (and a clash with Blancpain GT as well) dictates the first race after the N24 saw a very meager field. Only 4 GT3's were entered, only 3 started and only one was fast enough to make the race not much more than a formality. Still, it turned out to be not as straight forward (but don't worry, Frikadelli still won).

If anyone wants to know and see more, check out my report: http://www.gt-report.com/2015/06/23/...porsche-party/

very good report miguel!!!
Here another report of the race
http://www.gt-eins.de/Berichte2015/vln/vln3.html

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by rich07

Thanks for the report Miguel-nice pics btw

I can't believe there was only 4 GT3 cars. That there was a lull after the N24 in GT3 numbers and clash with Blancpain doesn't help but 4? Wow that's quite a surprise. Besides Frikadelli who were the other 2 GT3?? (I saw an Audi and a Z4 in the startline pic but can't identify who from).

Cheers mate! The second Walkenhorst Z4 crashed in practice and didn't make the start of the race, so that was already one less.

Next race should be better, even if it was only because of the Farnbacher Lexus debut. Hopefully Emil Frey also brings their Lexus. I'm expecting a couple more cars from Black Falcon and Car Collection because there's no clash with the Blancpain Endurance Series, but we'll see.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Two Walkenhorst Z4s and another Porsche from Manthey. The Audi was an SP8-class homebrew special.



The whole thing actually had a bit of a retro feel: A lone Porsche disappearing in the distance and cars from 3 or 4 different classes scrapping for a top-5. Basically the way VLN always was before the advent of the GT3s.

I was thinking Wankelhorst would show up (and I was right lol). Don't know anything about the home built R8, that's a bit of a mystery, with a few first gen R8 LMS on the secondhand market surely it'd be easier to buy one of them?

Good point on the lone Porsche being a flashback to earlier times, I know what you mean indeed

Originally Posted by Miguel

Cheers mate! The second Walkenhorst Z4 crashed in practice and didn't make the start of the race, so that was already one less.

Next race should be better, even if it was only because of the Farnbacher Lexus debut. Hopefully Emil Frey also brings their Lexus. I'm expecting a couple more cars from Black Falcon and Car Collection because there's no clash with the Blancpain Endurance Series, but we'll see.

Can't wait to see how the Lexus goes, that'll be very interesting for sure. Good place for durability testing. I'm surprised Black Falcon weren't there, it's quite weird when they're not in some way but I guess BES is more important this year. It's good to have a strong Mercedes presence in BES so VLN loss is BES gain.

[Speed-King]

Don't know anything about the home built R8, that's a bit of a mystery, with a few first gen R8 LMS on the secondhand market surely it'd be easier to buy one of them?

That R8 is the old Düchting car, that predates the introduction of the GT3-spec version.

Also, by running the homebuild you get into the SP8 class, where the competition is usually a lot less cutthroat than in SP9. So it becomes easier for somewhat competent amateur drivers to score a win or a podium. Finishing without problems is sometimes enough to guarantee the latter.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by rich07

Can't wait to see how the Lexus goes, that'll be very interesting for sure. Good place for durability testing. I'm surprised Black Falcon weren't there, it's quite weird when they're not in some way but I guess BES is more important this year. It's good to have a strong Mercedes presence in BES so VLN loss is BES gain.

Black Falcon were there with their non-GT3 crews, but their SLS teams went to Paul Ricard. They won SP7 and probably some V-class also. Gerwin and Manuel Metzger are fourth now in both the VLN championship as well as the Speed Trophäe. Those two have won all races so far this year, including the N24, in a very competitive class. Should come as no surprise that Metzger is fast, but Gerwin really surprises me this season.

[Miguel]

It's getting better and better: Mercedes-AMG GT3 debutes at VLN4. https://www.facebook.com/AMGCustomer...type=1&theater

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Miguel

It's getting better and better: Mercedes-AMG GT3 debutes at VLN4. https://www.facebook.com/AMGCustomer...type=1&theater

Fantastic!!!

[rich07]

Brilliant news!! It's all been pretty quiet with the new car so far, ive seen an article about testing in Top Gear of all places so this is a nice surprise. Can't wait to see how it goes.