Multiple Le Mans winner and former FIA World Endurance Champion Timo Bernhard is set to test Falken’s new 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 R this Friday ahead of the second VLN round of the season.

With all of Falken’s Porsche drivers having to sit out VLN 2 due to clashes, the five-time N24 winner and Nurburgring lap record breaker Bernhard has been chosen to roll out the Porsche on short notice. The team had originally planned to only race its sister BMW M6 in VLN2 because of the driver situation.

“We always planned to race the BMW this weekend but the opportunity came up to get Timo in the car to work through the preparations we need to do before the N24,” says Stefanie Olbertz, Falken’s motorsport co-ordinator.

“With the revised suspension, different tyre sizes and aero package, the 2019 911 differs considerably from the GT3R we have been running. Getting more experience of running the new car, plus the chance to have Timo’s feedback was a worthwhile addition to our test programme. We’d like to thank Porsche for making him available to us.”