For the Team ZIMMERMANN-BLACK FALCON, joy and sorrow were close together at the 24-hour race: While the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS (#70) retired after a strong performance due to an accident, the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup (#900) celebrated a hard-fought class victory in the CUP2 AM class on its 24-hour debut.
Porsche 992 GT3 Cup #900 – CUP2 AM class
- Qualifying: 1st place CUP2 AM
- Race: 1st place CUP2 AM (overall: 17th place)
The Porsche 992 GT3 Cup of Team ZIMMERMANN-BLACK FALCON – driven by Alex Hardt, Thomas Kiefer, Peter Ludwig, and Maik Rosenberg – delivered an impressive performance at the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife. The team qualified as the fastest AM car in third place overall in the CUP2 class.
The start of the race was initially unfortunate: shortly after the start, there was a minor collision that damaged the front axle of the car. However, it was a blessing in disguise: the subsequent race interruption due to a power failure allowed the team to replace the defective parts during the enforced break without losing any additional time. After the restart, the team resumed the race from the back and worked its way back into the leading group of the class with a strong pace.
Two hours before the end of the race, another incident caused a moment of shock: in the Klostertal section, the Porsche hit a fuel spill, skidded off the track at high speed, and crashed into the guardrail. But the team was once again lucky in its misfortune: the rear bumper had absorbed the force of the impact well and, after a quick check in the pits, the #900 was able to return to the track.
In the end, the “ZIMMERMANN-911” crossed the finish line in fourth place in the CUP2 overall standings and won the CUP2 AM classification by a clear margin – a well-deserved reward for a strong team performance in the BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN's 24-hour debut.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS #70 – Class SP7
- Qualifying: 4th place SP7
- Race: Retired on Sunday morning after an accident in the Kesselchen section
The Team ZIMMERMANN-BLACK FALCON , consisting of David Barst, Anton Ruf, Axel Sartingen, and “Nils Schwenk,” got off to a promising start to the weekend: After a flawless qualifying session, in which the focus was on ensuring sufficient driving time for all drivers, the “ZIMMERMANN Cayman” started the race from fourth place. The start went smoothly, but early on Saturday evening – shortly after the restart – the #70 was hit from the side during an overtaking maneuver through no fault of its own, damaging the vehicle's lighting system.
Despite this setback and a lengthy pit stop, the team continued the race undeterred and initially showed a strong comeback during the night. Early on Sunday morning – at this point in second place in the class – the Cayman then crashed in the Kesselchen section during a lapping maneuver: the car lost grip in the dirt next to the ideal line and crashed into the guard rails. The damage to the bodywork was irreparable on site, bringing the #70's race to a premature end.
For David Barst, Anton Ruf, and “Nils Schwenk,” it was their first 24-hour race on the Nordschleife. Before the unfortunate retirement, the team showed strong pace and a cohesive team performance, which bodes well for future races.
