In this year's race season, Falken will line up on the grid with not one, but two cars from premium German manufacturers. Last year saw the debut of the Falken Porsche 911 GT3 R, which scooped the title of fastest Porsche in the 24 Hours Nürburgring and finished in 9th place overall. This season, it will be joined by an all-new Falken BMW M6 GT3 – the first time Falken has fielded two vehicles in motorsport.
Falken will enter both cars in various VLN endurance races as well as the legendary 24-hour race at Nürburgring. Campaigning two separate current-specification GT3 vehicles validates the confidence Falken has its tyres and engineering.
The BMW will be in the hands of two Falken drivers; Peter Dumbreck, this year celebrating ten years as part of the Falken team, and Alexandre Imperatori. The Porsche will be driven by Martin Ragginger and Porsche-works drivers Jörg Bergmeister, Dirk Werner and Laurens Vanthoor.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt says; "We are very happy to be working with Falken Motorsport and have this well-established team compete with a BMW M6 GT3. In 2016, the race car was able to prove its great potential on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and it is clear that this is a very appealing model for our customers. Team Falken tested the car itself in the VLN Endurance Championship at the end of last year, which proved positive. We hope that we can celebrate success together this season in the Green Hell."
Porsche 911 GT3 R (991)
Engine
4.0-litre naturally aspirated, power: 504 HP at 8750rpm, rev limit: 9,500rpm, top speed: 298 km/h, 0-100 km/h: 2.7 seconds
Rims/tyres
Front: one-piece BBS rims 18x12-inch, Falken slick tyres: 300/660R18
Rear: one-piece BBS rims 18x13-inch, Falken slick tyres: 330/710R18
BMW M6 GT3
Engine
4.4-litre turbocharged V8, power: 585 HP
Rims/tyres
BBS rims 18x13-inch, Falken slick tyres 330/710R18
About Sumitomo Rubber Australia
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is the sixth largest tyre manufacturer in the world. With 11 global tyre manufacturing facilities, SRI produces tyres for passenger cars, light trucks, trucks & buses, motorcycles and agricultural machinery. Sumitomo Rubber Australia (SRAU) is the local subsidiary and manages two brands - Falken and Sumitomo Tyres. For more information visit www.falken.com.au.