As reported by Sportscar365, the iconic Falken blue livery will remain on the grid at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours despite major changes within the tyre manufacturer’s European operations.
A Porsche 911 GT3 R run by Schnabl Engineering will once again carry the traditional two-tone blue Falken colours at the legendary Nordschleife endurance race. In addition, the car will also compete in selected rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) as part of its preparation.
The announcement confirms that the well-known Falken branding will continue to appear in endurance racing even after corporate restructuring created uncertainty about its future in motorsport.
Falken Brand continues despite corporate change
At the end of last year, Falken Tyre Europe GmbH announced plans to change its name to Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH. Consequently, the news sparked speculation about whether the Falken brand would disappear from motorsport programmes.
However, the latest plans confirm that the Falken identity will remain visible at the Nordschleife. The familiar blue livery will continue to represent the tyre brand during the Nürburgring 24 and selected NLS events.
The Falken Motorsport Porsche will feature a line-up of drivers with established ties to the programme. Sven Mueller will return to the cockpit alongside Porsche-contracted driver Morris Schuring. The pair already share a successful history, having claimed victory in last year’s Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie season opener together with Klaus Bachler and Tim Heinemann. This experienced quartet will aim to translate that form into a strong result in the 24-hour race.
“I’m very excited to be starting our sixth year together with Falken Motorsports,” said Heinemann. “Last year’s 24-hour race unfortunately ended in disappointment despite a promising start. That makes me all the more motivated to achieve a top result this year.”
Dunlop-liveried Porsche confirms factory talent
Meanwhile, Schnabl Engineering’s second Porsche 911 GT3 R will carry a distinctive yellow-and-black Dunlop livery.
The entry will feature a strong factory-supported driver line-up. Porsche works driver Julien Andlauer will lead the crew alongside Nico Menzel, Alessio Picariello and Dorian Boccolacci, all of whom hold contracts with the German manufacturer.
This pairing of Falken and Dunlop-branded cars ensures the team maintains a strong presence at the Nordschleife while supporting tyre development and competition programmes.
Car Collection Motorsport returns to the Nürburgring 24 in 2026
Elsewhere on the grid, Car Collection Motorsport has confirmed its return to the Nürburgring 24 after skipping the previous two editions of the race.
The team will field a Porsche 911 GT3 R with a line-up combining experience and emerging talent. Team regular Alex Fontana will join former Audi factory driver Nathanael Berthon, reigning NLS TCR class champion Artur Goroyan and Kyrgyzstan racer Oleg Kvitka.
Before tackling the main event, the team plans to compete in four preparatory races. These outings will include two earlier rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie.
Team manager Romina Schmidt explained that returning to the race carries special significance for the organisation.
“This will be our first start in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring since 2023, which we are very happy about, as the Nürburgring Nordschleife is our motorsport home,” said Schmidt. “Our start in last year’s double-header made us very confident that we can fight for a good result in the SP9 Pro-Am class. We will also use our preparatory races to ensure we have the best possible package for the start in May.”
Strong Porsche presence expected at the Nordschleife
With Falken maintaining its iconic colours, Dunlop introducing a new look and multiple competitive entries confirmed, Porsche teams are preparing for another significant challenge at the Nürburgring 24.
As the season progresses through the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie rounds, teams will refine their cars and strategies ahead of the demanding endurance classic in May.
