- Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed without reward after a promising start
- SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm with strong comeback drive to class podium
- Stefan Wendl: “We had the performance over the distance to be at the front.”
At the 53rd edition of the ADAC RAVENOL 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport was unable to fulfil its own high expectations despite very good race pace. In unusually midsummer conditions around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the #14 (third on the grid) and #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 (seventh on the grid) initially made a promising start to the race. The opening drivers Maro Engel (GER) and Adam Christodoulou (GBR) were immediately able to establish themselves in the leading group with the two performance cars.
After around 90 minutes of racing, an absolute novelty occurred at the 24-hour classic: a widespread power failure blacked out the pits, screens and refuelling facilities, which is why the race had to be interrupted for two and a half hours with a red flag. At the restart at 8pm, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed once again showed their racing skills and remained within striking distance of the front runners with both cars. With the onset of darkness and the change to medium tyres, the Mercedes-AMG GT3s were able to pick up the pace and close the gap to the leaders.
Defects prevent good result for Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed
Shortly before 1am, the #14 car came in for a pit stop while lying in a podium position. A defect was discovered on the drive flange. This lack of propulsion forced the quartet of drivers — Maro Engel, Maxime Martin (BEL), Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz (both GER) — to retire prematurely after completing 41 laps.
The #17 in the distinctive ‘Purple Beast’ livery dropped back temporarily during the night due to a penalty for a short pit stop. However, thanks to consistently good lap times, Ralf Aron (EST), Lucas Auer (AUT), Adam Christodoulou (GBR) and Mikaël Grenier (CAN) fought their way back up to third place by morning. As the race progressed, Ralf Aron noticed vibrations during his stint, which turned out to be the result of a problem with the front left suspension. This also affected the underbody, ultimately preventing him from continuing competitively. He took the #17 car back onto the track for the final lap, showing the ‘Purple Beast’ to the 280,000 spectators who had come to watch the race this weekend, and securing the points for the Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers’ championship.
Speedy repair enables class podium for SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm
The #11 SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm made an impressive comeback. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Christopher Brück, Jannes Fittje, Jay Mo Härtling and Kenneth Heyer (all GER) at the wheel ended up in the gravel just moments after the first pit stop and subsequently dropped back a long way. However, the team used the interruption caused by the power failure to get the car back on track for the restart. Despite the setbacks, they finished the race with an otherwise faultless performance in third place in the SP9 PRO-AM class and 13th overall. The team’s #111 Mercedes-AMG GT4 had started from pole position in the SP10 class, but did not see the chequered flag after an accident on lap 15.
The ADAC RAVENOL 24-hour race at the Nürburgring marks the end of the second of a total of five race weekends in the 2025 Intercontinental GT Challenge. The third event of the season, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, will take place next weekend. Twelve Mercedes-AMG GT3s from seven teams will compete in the world’s biggest GT3 race.
Facts, Data, Figures
“First of all, congratulations to SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm on third place in the class. Even though we are leaving the Nürburgring disappointed. Especially because we were definitely expecting a podium finish. The preparations for the 24-hour race together with Team GetSpeed were excellent. We had the performance with both cars over the distance to be at the front – which we showed until the retirements. Thanks to our fans for their support and congratulations to BMW and ROWE Racing on their victory.“
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing
“A big thank you to the Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed and Mercedes-AMG. We worked very hard and prepared well. We were in the Top 3 for a long time and within striking distance of the front runners. In terms of performance alone, more would have been possible. That’s why it’s a shame that it had to end like this. The atmosphere was incredible, you could feel the special mood from the very first moment. But we are looking ahead and will have another chance next week at the Spa 24-hour race.”
Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #14
“It was a challenging weekend. Especially because we had such hot conditions. This meant that we had to adapt the set-up and understand the tyres. But we managed that well. With third place on the grid, we had a good starting position for the race. Maro showed in his first stint that we have a good car. Our pace got even better during the night. That’s why we were confident that we could fight for a good result. It was a shame that we couldn’t finish the race due to a defect.“
Fabian Schiller, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #14
“We were expecting a difficult race in these conditions. The many incidents showed that it wasn’t easy. We had a really good stint in the morning, were in third place and therefore on course for a podium. Unfortunately, we were then slowed down by a technical defect. But the team did a great job to get the car back on track. Fortunately for our fans, I was able to go out again and complete the last lap.“
Ralf Aron, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #17
“It was a great honour for me to be able to compete with Mercedes-AMG and the Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. It was my first time doing stints on the Nordschleife in the evening, which was challenging but also a lot of fun. Of course, we had imagined the end to be different. Retiring is always disappointing. But that’s the way it goes in motorsport sometimes.“
Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #17
