Mercedes-AMG fans can look forward to a thrilling Nürburgring 24-hour race from 26 till 29 May. Both on and off the track, the performance brand from Affalterbach increases its presence: in total, seven Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be competing in the endurance race in the Eifel. The new cars will be run by the teams Black Falcon, HTP Motorsport, HARIBO Racing and MANN-FILTER Team Zakspeed. The top-class driver line-up, uniting many of the world’s best GT drivers and Nordschleife experts, also clearly underlines the ambitions.
For the first time, five Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be racing with increased AMG support in the race at the circa 25 kilometres long combination of the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit. Two of them are to be run by AMG-Team Black Falcon, two by AMG-Team HTP Motorsport and one by HARIBO Racing Team-AMG. The new AMG Performance Teams are closely working together with AMG and are only competing in selected races or series. Complementing the proven technical support, they will, among others, also be supported by engineers and race strategists from Affalterbach. In the future, AMG Customer Sport Teams from all over the world can put themselves in the frame to run as an AMG Performance Team by outstanding sporting achievements.
The driver line-up of the AMG Performance Teams also stands for quality. With Maximilian Götz and Christian Vietoris, two drivers from the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team will be taking on the endurance challenge. The following ten AMG drivers are also part of the line-up for the 24-hour race: Nico Bastian, Dominik Baumann, Maximilian Buhk, Yelmer Buurman, Adam Christodoulou, Maro Engel, Christian Hohenadel, Thomas Jäger, Bernd Schneider and Jan Seyffarth. Especially for the event in the ‘Green Hell’, eight further Nordschleife experts are to support the AMG Performance Teams: Uwe Alzen, Lance David Arnold, Hubert Haupt, Manuel Metzger, Stefan Mücke, Dirk Müller, Marco Seefried and Renger van der Zande.
The driver allocation among the AMG Performance Teams at a glance:
| Team | Drivers (in alphabetical order) |
| AMG-Team Black Falconwith two Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Nico Bastian (GER), Yelmer Buurman (NED), Adam Christodoulou (GBR), Maro Engel (GER), Hubert Haupt (GER), Manuel Metzger (GER), Dirk Müller (GER), Bernd Schneider (GER) |
| AMG-Team HTP Motorsport with two Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
Dominik Baumann (GER), Maximilian Buhk (GER), Christian Hohenadel (GER), Thomas Jäger (GER), Stefan Mücke (GER), Marco Seefried (GER), Christian Vietoris (GER), Renger van der Zande (NED) |
| HARIBO Racing Team-AMGwith a Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Uwe Alzen (GER), Lance David Arnold (GER), Maximilian Götz (GER), Jan Seyffarth (GER) |
Further Mercedes-AMG GT3 Customer Sport cars to race
Next to these five cars, two further Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be taking on the 44th running of the Nürburgring 24-hour race: for Black Falcon, Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA), Indy Dontje and Gerwin Schuring (both NED) will be racing. For MANN-FILTER Team Zakspeed, Sebastian Asch, Luca Ludwig and Kenneth Heyer (all GER) will be taking turns behind the wheel.
Before the ‘ADAC Zurich 24h Rennen’ beckons at the end of May, teams and drivers will have to complete an exciting preparation programme: in three VLN rounds (2 April, 30 April, 14 May), they have the opportunity to rack up valuable miles of testing in racing conditions with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Of course, the top teams will also be on the grid for the ‘ADAC Qualifikationsrennen 24h-Rennen (16-17 April): the prologue promises over twelve hours of track time, among which more than nine hours at the Nordschleife.
Mercedes-AMG with a huge fan base and many further activities
Visitors can also look forward to a comprehensive presence of Mercedes-AMG in the support programme of the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Like last year, the AMG Fan Base will serve as the central port of call in the paddock: a surface of 1,500 square metres will allow for an up-close experience of the fascination of Mercedes-AMG, including Formula 1 and DTM feeling. The attractive fan base will also be the venue for numerous activities, ranging from a pit stop competition via a varied programme on the show stage with interviews, autograph sessions and show acts up to the great AMG RACE PARTY. Access to the area is free for all visitors with an admission ticket for the event.
Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “For us, races at the Nürburgring always are a highlight, and even more so this year, as we are celebrating the 24-hour race debut at the Nordschleife for our Mercedes-AMG GT3. With this car, we enter a new era, of which the introduction of the AMG Performance Teams is a part as well. Thus, we are bringing our Customer Sports programme to the next level. The unique event at the Nürburgring is the ideal platform to prove our competence as a sports car and performance brand. Moreover, with our extraordinary Experience World, we are providing the many Mercedes-AMG fans an unforgettable brand experience off the track as well. We are looking forward to a successful season with a thrilling 24-hour race.”