The convergence between sim racing and real-world motorsport continues to gain momentum across the racing ecosystem. In that context, Fanatec, the sim racing hardware brand owned by CORSAIR, has announced a new strategic partnership with German racing organization Black Falcon to compete in some of the most demanding endurance events held at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The project, named BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC, will bring together prominent content creators and experienced racing drivers to compete in the 50th season of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), as well as the ADAC Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers and the prestigious ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
The initiative reflects a growing trend in motorsport: using sim racing not only as a training tool, but also as a direct pathway into professional competition.
A lineup combining content creators and professional drivers
The team will feature an unconventional but highly recognizable lineup. Content creators Misha Charoudin, Jimmy Broadbent, and Steve Alvarez Brown will share driving duties with professional racer Manuel Metzger, one of the most respected Nürburgring specialists.
Together, these names represent a combined social media audience of more than 7 million followers, giving the project significant reach and helping bring endurance racing to a wider audience.
Misha Charoudin has established himself as one of the most influential creators focused on Nürburgring content, producing videos centered on hot laps and experiences around the Nordschleife. Jimmy Broadbent, meanwhile, has a long-standing relationship with Fanatec and previous real-world racing experience, including his 2022 UK Praga Cup championship, achieved with support from the brand.
They are joined by Steve Alvarez Brown, widely known for his Gran Turismo-focused content, creating a natural connection to the sim racing ecosystem that Fanatec has supported for years through officially licensed hardware.
Manuel Metzger brings Nürburgring expertise
From a competitive standpoint, the key figure in the lineup is Manuel Metzger, a German driver widely regarded as one of the fastest specialists on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Metzger brings extensive endurance racing experience and a strong track record in 24-hour events. His role within the project is not only to strengthen the team’s on-track performance, but also to contribute technical insight both during races and in the team’s simulator-based preparation.
According to Fanatec, the collaboration will also help improve the development of its sim racing technology by incorporating real-world feedback from professional drivers to refine realism and performance.
A Porsche 992 GT3 Cup running alternative fuel
BLACK FALCON Team FANATEC will compete with a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup entered in the AT class, a category reserved for cars running alternative fuels.
As part of the partnership, Fanatec will become the Official Sim Racing and Technology Partner for Black Falcon. The collaboration aims to integrate virtual training and real-world racing into a unified performance development process.
At its core, the project is designed to demonstrate how advanced simulation can be used to prepare drivers for complex circuits like the Nordschleife, while also enabling detailed performance analysis and refinement.
Season debut in March, Nürburgring 24 Hours as the main goal
The team’s competitive debut is scheduled for March 14, 2026, when the new season of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie begins.
However, the primary target will be the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, taking place from May 14 to May 17, 2026. The race is widely considered one of the most demanding endurance events in the world due to the circuit’s length, multi-class traffic, and constantly changing weather conditions.
Throughout the season, the team members will document their preparation and racing experiences across their digital platforms. This will give fans an inside look at training sessions, race strategy, and the development of a project that uniquely bridges the gap between sim racing and real-world motorsport.
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