Germany’s iconic Nürburgring is set to host the final round of the Blancpain Endurance Series, and Maidstone’s Devon Modell will contest the six-hour event behind the wheel of Black Falcon’s striking Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (20-21 September).
Fresh from claiming his sixth podium finish of the season en route to second in the final GT4 classification of the 2014 Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Donington Park, Modell will be seeking more GT glory this weekend when he partners Vladimir Lunkin and Anders Fjordbach in the renowned Black Falcon team’s SLS AMG GT3.
Founded in 2006, Black Falcon is a regular in world motorsport’s most prestigious GT racing arenas and boasts a highly impressive CV, which includes three VLN Championships and numerous endurance racing titles.
Becoming a Mercedes-Benz AMG partner in 2011, the Meuspath-based outfit proudly scored Mercedes’s first overall Nürburgring 24 Hours victory in 2013 and will hope to replicate that result in the forthcoming final round of the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series.
Having tested TF Sport’s Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 several weeks ago, Modell, aged 23 from Maidstone, is no newcomer to high-powered machinery and heads to ‘The Ring’ brimming with confidence and excitement.
And with 41 teams and 118 drivers registered to compete in the event, the length of the race and the unpredictable climate should make for an unforgettable season finale.
“This weekend is going to be a big learning experience, but I’m excited by it and heading into it with a very open mind,” said Modell. “It’s going to be a big step up from the British GT Championship that I’m used to, but Black Falcon has a great car and is very strong at this circuit, so I’m hoping to come away with a class podium. I should be able to get to grips with both the car and track during the Bronze test on Friday (19 September), before we get down to business on Saturday and Sunday.
“I expect the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to be quicker but more of a handful than the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, as it’s a bigger car. I’m also looking forward to not having to look over my shoulder to let the GT3 cars through and being able to get in among the field. I’m heading into the unknown, but this will be a great experience for the future.”
Qualifying for Round 5 of the Blancpain Endurance Series is scheduled to get underway at 15.15 GMT on Saturday (20 September), and will be followed by the headlining 1000km race at 09.45 GMT on Sunday (21 September).
For more information on Devon Modell and his racing activities, please follow@Devon_Modell on Twitter.