Schnabl Engineering Expands Presence at 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
Schnabl Engineering is set to enhance its participation in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours by entering two Porsche 911 GT3 Rs under the Falken and Dunlop banners. This strategic decision follows Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ acquisition of Dunlop’s European division from Goodyear.
The #44 Porsche will carry the traditional Falken colors and will be driven by Tim Heinemann, Klaus Bachler, Sven Müller, and Morris Schuring. The vehicle’s lineup, successful in last year’s NLS Speed Trophy, remains largely unchanged, with only minor adjustments. The now-renumbered #17 Porsche will sport Dunlop’s yellow and black livery, featuring drivers Alessio Picariello, Julien Andlauer, Nico Menzel, and Dorian Boccolacci, who has switched from the #44 car.
Bachler returns to the team after missing the 2025 race due to commitments in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, underlining Schnabl Engineering’s focus on building competitive momentum. In addition to the 24-hour race, the team will participate in select NLS events throughout the 2026 season, aiming to replicate their five race victories from the previous year.
Falken has confirmed its ongoing collaboration with Max Kruse Racing, which secured class wins in both the AT2 and AT3 categories at the preceding 24-hour event, and recently added an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II to its fleet.
The 2026 ADAC 24H Nürburgring is scheduled for May 14-17, with the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie set to commence on March 14.
Key Dates:
- 24H Nürburgring: May 14-17, 2026
- NLS Season Start: March 14, 2026
Images courtesy of Dunlop Tyres Europe and Falken Tyre.
