Team Black Falcon wins the second NLS race in Cup 2 class. Winner in Cup 3 is again Schmickler Performance

Meuspath. The Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring saw a changing of the guard and another winner in race two of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). In the Cup 2 class, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) of Team Black Falcon (#102) with Tobias Müller and Paul Harkema won, pushing the winners of NLS 1, KKrämer Racing (#112) with Christopher Brück, Karsten Krämer and Moritz Kranz, into second place. Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol (#969) with Mauro Calamia, Ivan Jacoma and Kai Riemer also won the second race in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS (982).

"We wanted to set a best time early on in qualifying, but we didn't manage that due to many Code60 phases on the Nordschleife. Accordingly, we only started the race from fourth place," said Tobias Müller. "In the race, however, we didn't let ourselves go crazy. Paul [Harkema] drove a brilliant start and already moved up to second place on the first lap. After five laps, the team changed strategy and made an early pit stop with a long standing time. I then did a double stint and made up a lot of time. We're happy with our performance and that we won." His teammate Paul [Harkema] added: "My first stint was chaotic with a lot of Code60 phases, there were a few tricky moments. After five laps I came in third. The speed is there, the tactics worked out."

The team was able to take the lead during the course of the race and ultimately won in commanding fashion with a lead of over a minute over the winners from NLS 1. AVIA W&S Motorsport's Porsche (#120) with Daniel Blickle, Tim Scheerbarth and Ralf Schall followed in third. The team still finished third despite a 60-second time penalty.

Fourth and thus winners of the AM-classification were Maik Rosenberg and Peter Ludwig, piloting Team Black Falcon's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) (#103) together with PRO-driver Noah Nagelsdiek. "In qualifying, there were only two free laps due to the many Code60 phases. Unfortunately, we missed those, so were only in tenth place," said Rosenberg. "But because we finished second in the first race, 0.6 seconds behind, we knew that every lap mattered. So pushing was the order of the day." The duo remained flawless and ultimately drove to success. Teammate Peter Ludwig added: "I also race in the USA Cup races, but the Nürburgring is just epic and much better - especially when the weather is so nice. In the race we really stepped on the gas despite the heavy traffic. All in all, it was a good race and we're happy to be on the AM-podium."

Second victory in a row for Schmickler Performance in Cup 3

Mauro Calamia, Ivan Jacoma and Kai Riemer celebrated a commanding success in the Cup 3 class. The trio from Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol (#969) finished a minute ahead of pole setters Jens Moetefindt, Moritz Oberheim and Thorsten Wolter from Team FK-Performance Motorsport (#976). Father Axel and son Max Friedhoff from Aimpoint Racing by Rothfuss Best Gabion followed in third place.

"The second victory for us, that is great of course. We didn't have a good lap despite P2 in qualifying. But our start was good and we were able to defend this position well until the middle of the race. In the end we were even able to pull away a bit from our pursuers," summed up Calamia. Ivan Jacoma added: "In my stint there were many accidents and Code60 phases. There was also a lot of oil on the track, so you had to be a bit careful. But in the end, everything worked out well."

Victory in the Cup 3 AM-classification went to Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol (#950) with drivers Horst Baumann and Stefan Schmickler. "In the winter I had a hip and a shoulder surgery. That's why this was my first race this season," explained Horst Baumann. "For me it was primarily a test to see how well my shoulder could cope, it worked great. Stefan [Schmickler] and I are also a new driver constellation, so it was a test for us as well. The fact that we ended up first in the AM-driver-classification is nice, of course."

KKrämer Racing and Schmickler Performance lead the championship

In the Cup 2 team standings, KKrämer Racing (#112) is in the lead with 39 points ahead of Team Black Falcon (#102) (37 points). The decisive factor for the lead is that the front runners took the bonus points for pole position and fastest race lap in race two. The result also reflects the drivers' standings: Krämer, Brück and Kranz are in first place. Best-placed drivers in the AM-classification are Mustafa Mehmet Kaya (#104), Peter Ludwig (#103) and Maik Rosenberg (#103), tied with 37 points.

After two victories, Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol leads the Cup 3 team standings with 40 points ahead of FK Performance (36 points), with Calamia, Jacoma and Riemer tied for first place in the drivers' standings. Best AM-driver is pseudonym driver 'SVITTEL'.

The next round of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring will take place on 25 June 2022. In the meantime, PETN teams will be competing in the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers 2022 (May 6-8) and the 50th ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring (May 25-29).

Press contact:

Laura Claesgens

Consultant Corporate Communications
E-Mail: l.claesgens[at]manthey-racing.de