BLACK FALCON makes successful 24H SERIES comeback at Spa-Francorchamps
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After a two-year absence, BLACK FALCON returned to the 24H SERIES at the Hankook 12h Spa-Francorchamps 2023. The team from Meuspath started with two Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars on the 7.004 km long mountain-and-valley race track in the Belgian Ardennes and finished fourth and seventh in the 992-AM class. In the process, the team demonstrated fighting spirit and, after a chaotic first part of the race, worked its way back to the front with the #919 in the course of the race. The #920 sister car drove a flawless race, but was unlucky with the Code 60 periods on day two.
#919 BLACK FALCON Team TEXTAR: Fantastic recovery on Sunday
The #919 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup started the 12h Spa-Francorchamps with two US-Americans, BLACK FALCON newcomers Matt Kehoe and Tom Roberts. Carrera Cup ProAm record champion Carlos Rivas was the third driver behind the wheel. The trio started the race very well and established themselves in the top 3 of the class in the first hours of the race before the Porsche slid into the gravel during a rainstorm and lost several laps as a result. However, Kehoe, Roberts and Rivas refused to be intimidated by the early setback and fought their way back into the race over the course of the remaining hours that followed. On Sunday in particular, the trio put in an impressive performance, for long stretches the #919 was the fastest 992 AM car in the field, lapping its way back several times in the process. After 12 hours, final driver Kehoe crossed the finish line in a conciliatory fourth place in the 992-AM class.
#920 BLACK FALCON Team TEXTAR: Flawless performance of the 24H Series returnees
The cockpit of the #920 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup (992-AM) was shared by BLACK FALCON owner Alex Böhm, Axel König, Axel Sartingen and Norbert Schneider. For the quartet, who had finished on the podium of the SPX class together at the 24h CoTA USA in 2019, the race at Spa-Francorchamps was the first ever race appearance in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup. For Böhm and König, it was also their first race since racing together in 2019, and the experienced drivers put in a solid performance in the strongly contested class, remaining virtually mistake-free over the entire distance. During the challenging weather conditions on Saturday, the #920 was always fast and safe and was more than two laps ahead of its sister car by the end of the first half of the race. In the consistently dry second part, the #920 was unlucky several times in terms of "track position", i.e. at code 60 it had just passed the pit entrance. In addition, there was a tire puncture caused by debris. Despite these adversities, the mood in the team could hardly have been better, with all four drivers expressing their enthusiasm for the track and the well-organized event. At the end of the 12 hours, final driver Sartingen crossed the finish line -without a single scratch on the car- in seventh place in class.
Alexander Böhm, Team Principal BLACK FALCON and driver #920:
"Although we just missed the podium, I am still very satisfied. Without the trip into the gravel bed, P2 in class would have been achievable for the #919. The drivers of the #920 didn't make any mistakes in difficult conditions. Our new drivers have integrated perfectly into the team and we are already planning the next races together. For sure - all drivers agree on this - we will compete again at the 12h Spa in 2024. Many thanks to our entire team for the perfect job and to Creventic for the great event!"
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