Falken Motorsports has revealed the drivers that will compete in its pair of new 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 R during this year’s NLS season and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
Klaus Bachler, Sven Müller and Martin Ragginger remain part of the Falken team. The trio has been competing for the Japanese tyre brand for multiple seasons, with Ragginger playing a key part in the Japanese tyre brand’s Porsche project since its inception in 2011.
In addition, a trio of younger drivers, all with previous NLS starts for Falken, return too, with Joel Eriksson, Alessio Picariello, and Tim Heinemann all signed. In 2022, Swede Eriksson scored two NLS victories for Falken together with Sven Müller. Picariello meanwhile, claimed an overall victory in the NLS 12-hour race last year. Two-time DTM Trophy winner Tim Heinemann, who competed for Falken Motorsports for the first time in 2022, also remains part of the team, alongside his DTM commitments with Toksport WRT.
Completing the team’s line-up is a new face, Nico Menzel The 25-year-old German has a wealth of GT3 experience to bring to the team, including a pair of SP9 Pro-Am wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, both in Huber Motorsports-entered Porsche 911 GT3 R.
While the 2023 season will be the first full season with the 992-spec Porsche for Falken Motorsports, it did get a taste of the new car at NLS8 at the end of last season.
Falken Motorsports’ first event at the Nordschleife this year is a pre-season test this weekend (March 10th-12th). The two Falken Porsche will be shared by Klaus Bachler, Nico Menzel, Sven Müller, Joel Eriksson and Tim Heinemann.
Its driver line-up for the NLS season opener, the 68th ADAC Westfalenfahrt on March 18th, will see Sven Müller and Joel Eriksson drive the #3 Falken Porsche and Nico Menzel and Martin Ragginger in the #4 Porsche.
In addition to other NLS races, Falken will also participate in the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (April 22nd-23rd ) and the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring race (May 18th-21st).
Image courtesy of Gruppe C/Falken
