Erebus Motorsport’s AMG Customer Sports program has opted for a powerful mix of youthful experience for its GT Asia Series attack on the 60th Macau Grand Prix (November 15-17), engaging its V8 Supercar pilot, Maro Engel and Renger van der Zande – who has finished the Formula 3 race twice in the top five.
The 2013 Season Finale for the GT Asia Series is run as part of the City of Dreams Macau GT Cup.
The pair will each pilot one of Erebus Motorsport’s SLS AMG GT3s – which delivered the team an enviable streak of 10 consecutive race wins, including the 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour and victory on its GT Asia Series debut with Mika Hakkinen in Zhuhai.
27-year-old van der Zande’s four campaigns in Macau has yielded two top five finishes and a seventh with teams such as Prema Powerteam and Raikkonen-Robertson Racing.
Engel, in his sole visit in 2006 for Carlin Motorsport alongside Sebastian Vettel, got caught in someone else’s incident in race one, then – in an under-powered vehicle – blasted from 32nd on the grid to finish ninth in a field that featured four of the current Formula 1 grid.
Versatile Dutchman, van der Zande, has driven a variety of categories from LMP2 in last year’s World Endurance Championship and this year’s ALMS, to Supercup and GP3, right through to DTM for Mercedes-Benz and GP2.
He has raced in the AMG Customer Sports program this year, winning a races at Jerez (Spain) and Silverstone (UK) for Seyffarth Motorsport.
Meantime, Engel is the consummate Mercedes-AMG Motorsport graduate. After a career in Formula 3, he entered DTM before moving into the AMG Customer Sports program and being a key driver in the development of the stunning SLS AMG GT3 Gullwing.
Symbolically, Macau 2006 was Engel’s last race in a non-Mercedes powered vehicle and his only appearance in the Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG GT3 in 2012 delivered success at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, leading a resounding Erebus 1-2.
This year, the 28-year-old Monaco-based German made one of the boldest decisions of his career to move to Australia and be a foundation driver in Erebus Motorsport’s V8 Supercar program, which fields three E63 AMG models. He drives the #9 SP Tools racing entry.
The Macau event is the second for Erebus Motorsport’s AMG Customer Sports Program outside Australia, having earlier this month debuted with success at Zhuhai in China. Double F1 World Champ, Mika Hakkinen took a stunning victory with young Chinese racer, Matthew Solomon.
To choose Engel and van der Zande embodies the high performance, but youthful and precise nature of AMG, along with that of Erebus Motorsport and the AMG Customer Sports program – which is increasing its global footprint on a daily basis.
To provide a guiding hand, AMG Customer Sports legend, Bernd Schneider will be in Macau – a track he has raced on in DTM in the past. Schneider will be there in his role as AMG brand ambassador to assist Erebus Motorsport and the drivers.
Schneider has displayed the true performance of the SLS AMG GT3 better than anyone throughout 2013, tasting victory in the ‘Grand Slam’ of endurance races – the Dubai 24 Hour, Bathurst 12 Hour, Nurburgring 24 Hour and Spa 24 Hour – all behind the wheel of the Gullwing.
The GT Asia Series runs as part of the City of Dreams Macau GT Cup Series in support of the main weekend of the Macau Grand Prix festival – November 15-17, this year celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Following on from the success of Zhuhai, through the resources of AMG China, Erebus Motorsport will be able to deliver to its fans worldwide a livestream of the races from Macau.
From beneath the Gullwing:
Maro Engel: “I was fortunate enough to do the Macau Grand Prix in 2006, but unfortunately have not had the chance to return, so this is a great opportunity to go back there. Macau is one of those tracks that it does not matter which driver you speak to, they will all jump at the opportunity to race there. I think most people would compete in a pedal kart at Macau if they could! I’m sure even Michael Schumacher would agree. I haven’t driven an SLS AMG GT3 since the end of last year, but I know that the car Erebus Motorsport GT will turn out will be on the money from the beginning. I have every confidence in their professionalism to give me a car that has potential to win the race straight out of the box. The last time I was in Macau was significant, as I was racing against a tough field, many guys who have gone on to be in F1, including my team-mate Sebastian Vettel. That was the last time I drove a car with a non-Mercedes engine in fact.
“I’ve always wanted to go back – and to do it with Erebus will be a fantastic experience, particularly with how close Macau is to China and how important that market is to AMG and the AMG Customer Sports program.”
Renger van der Zande: “To go back to Macau and to race it in a car such as the Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG GT3 is a dream come true,” said van der Zande. “Macau is one of the most exhilarating race tracks in the world and you really have to be on your game, particularly as there isn’t a lot of track time before the races begin.
“To have achieved two top five finishes there in Formula 3 is something I look back on as career highlights.
“It will be fascinating to see how the Gullwing adapts to the tight confines of Macau. They are a dream to drive in so many different ways and it was awesome to add to AMG Customer Sport’s win tally in Jerez in June.
“I hear nothing but good things about Erebus Motorsport and the SLS AMG GT3 that they prepare. To deliver a victory for Mika Hakkinen in China – the first time the team had been there, and 10 wins in a row, speaks volumes for how methodical this team is and their desire for victory.
“Their team approach is very much about being totally professional, but doing it in a fun way. Fun is in my motorsport is important, but of course, I am always looking to do it professionally, so I think we will get along well.
“With the Erebus Motorsport, AMG Customer Sports car, combined with my experience, I think we have a combination that can run right at the front.
“Finishing top five at Macau is nice, but winning would be nicer.”