Falken Motorsports’ #4 Porsche 911 GT3 R 992 enjoyed a perfect start to the 2024 season, scoring a win in the opening NLS race on Saturday from ninth on the grid.
It was a tight contest for the win that saw Joel Eriksson and Nico Menzel finish just 3.6 seconds ahead of the #911 Manthey Porsche. The ‘Grello’ 911 started fifth and made it a 1-2 for the German brand after a battle with the #4 that came to a close after a pass on the Döttingher Höhe on lap 17.
“It’s hard to believe that this is my first race win here, after all I’ve been competing in the NLS for a few years,” said a jubilant Menzel after the race.
“I’ve been on the podium many times, won my class, but so far I’ve been denied first place. I think Joel is our lucky charm because when he’s on the car it works. He already has four wins!”
Despite coming home second, both Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre were pleased with their second-place finish.
“It’s always very special to be on the podium here at the NLS,” said Estre. “And it’s always great to be part of Manthey’s Grello project.”
Vanthoor added: “Yesterday we were in Spa to drive the LMDh, now on the Nordschleife. Those were two wonderful days. The support from the fans, who cheered us on lap after lap, was also fantastic.”
Behind the two Porsche, the third car across the line was the #16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 of Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock. It was in contention throughout the race, but according to Stippler didn’t quite have the raw pace to win.
“They were just too fast, I couldn’t keep up,” he said.
The second Falken Porsche – the #3 of Martin Ragginger and Alessio Picariello – looked on for a podium throughout too after leading in the opening hour. However, its day would end in heartbreaking fashion, the car retiring on the penultimate lap after contact with the PHX Audi, which will not take part in NLS2 on Sunday.
The top five was completed by the #27 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini – which started from pole after Daniel Juncadella’s 7:56.507 hot lap – and the #14 Team HRT Mercedes.
With a sixth-place finish Dennis Fetzer, Hubert Haupt and Ralf Aron took victory in the Pro-Am classification in the #6 ADVAN X HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Behind the best-placed Aston Martin Vantage GT3 from PROsport-Racing, the SPX class SCG004c from Glickenhaus Racing finished eighth. In the Am class, debutants Alexey Vermenko and ‘SELV’ won in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from JUTARACING with an 11th-place overall finish.
In the other classes, Cup 2 was won by the #120 AVIA W&S Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup which came home ninth overall and the hotly-contested SP10 category for GT4 cars saw the #170 TOYO Tires with Ring Racing Supra GT4 finish on top.
Unfortunately, one of the other headlines in the race was Robert Wickens’ nasty incident in the #831 Target Hyundai Elantra N TCR. The Canadian suffered a nasty off at the end of the lap at the Hohenrain-Schikane which resulted in him being airlifted to a local hospital.
Thankfully he avoided serious injury, the most recent statement coming from Wickens himself who said he is “feeling good” and “will get some rest”.
Images courtesy of Frozenspeed
