Mercedes-AMG aims for third overall victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring

• Mercedes-AMG Teams field four cars in three different classes in the Eifel region
• Fan programme: Mercedes-AMG presents itself in the ring°boulevard and in the paddock
• Christoph Sagemüller: “It has been nine years since our last overall victory – it is time to change that.”

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing is entering the 53rd edition of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring with high ambitions. One of the two factory-supported race cars from Affalterbach is set to finish at the top of the endurance classic on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, which takes place from 19 to 22 June.

The Mercedes-AMG Performance Team GetSpeed will field two top-spec Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the SP9 PRO category – traditionally the class from which the overall winner emerges. In addition, the Customer Racing Team SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm will enter a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the SP9 PRO-AM class and a Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the SP10 class. The last overall victory dates back to 2016, when Mercedes-AMG celebrated a historic quadruple triumph.

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After numerous podium finishes in recent years, it is time for Affalterbach to claim victory in the Eifel again. The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is part of the prestigious Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) for the second time in a row. This includes four other endurance classics in Australia, Belgium, Japan and the USA.

#14 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed  
Four highly experienced Nordschleife specialists will share the cockpit: Maro Engel (GER), Maxime Martin (BEL), Fabian Schiller (GER) and Luca Stolz (GER). The Mercedes-AMG GT3 will line up once again in the distinctive BILSTEIN design.

·         Maro Engel is one of the most experienced AMG Drivers with 15 starts in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, achieving one victory (2016) and three further   podium finishes (2014 – P3, 2018 – P2, 2022 – P3)

·         Maxime Martin will make his debut in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the endurance classic, having finished second three times so far (2013, 2015, 2023)

·         Fabian Schiller has been a regular competitor in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring since 2019 – he has completed all of his previous starts with GetSpeed,   finishing second with the team in 2022

·         Luca Stolz will be competing with GetSpeed for the first time in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, but has been a permanent fixture in the AMG line-up for   this race since 2017 and has finished on the podium three times to date (2018 – P3, 2019 – P2, 2023 – P3)

Both Luca Stolz and Maxime Martin will contest all three 24-hour races on three consecutive weekends – at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps.

#17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed  
The sister car with start number 17 will be driven by Ralf Aron (EST), Lucas Auer (AUT), Adam Christodoulou (GBR) and Mikaël Grenier (CAN). The Mercedes-AMG GT3 will start as the “PRPL Beast” – a design that combines elements of the legendary “Beast of the Green Hell” with purple livery. The colour choice refers to the term “Purple Sector”, which in motorsport refers to the fastest time in a sector.

·         Ralf Aron will be competing in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring for the second time

·         Lucas Auer is considered a rookie – he has been officially named twice for the endurance classic at the Nürburgring, but has not yet competed in the race

·         Adam Christodoulou has a wealth of experience on the Nürburgring Nordschleife: 2025 will be his 12th year in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h   Nürburgring, where he has secured one victory (2016) and two second places (2018, 2022)

·         Mikaël Grenier competed in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring for the first time in 2023 – initially with the Mercedes-AMG GT2, and in 2024 with the GT3

Two more Mercedes-AMG cars from SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm
The Team SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm is fielding two Mercedes-AMG cars with strong line-ups: a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the SP9 PRO-AM class and a Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the SP10 class. Kenneth Heyer (GER), Jannes Fittje (GER) and Jay Mo Härtling (GER) will take turns at the wheel of the GT3 #11. The fourth driver will be announced shortly. With his 20th start in the 24-hour race, 15 of which were in a Mercedes-AMG car, Kenneth Heyer is the driver with the most appearances in this year’s AMG line-up. In the SP10 class, the team is relying on an experienced quartet: Tim Neuser (GER), Reinhold Renger (GER), David Thilenius (GBR) and Guido Wirtz (GER) will be at the start in the Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Fan programme: Mercedes-AMG can also be experienced away from the racing action
The AMG Showroom in the ring°boulevard is open from Friday to Sunday. Visitors can expect a diverse Mercedes-AMG world with exhibition cars, the fan shop, a racing simulator and autograph sessions with selected drivers. Another highlight is the AMG Fanbase on the helicopter landing pad in the paddock. In addition to interactive exhibitions and various simulators, the traditional AMG autograph session with all drivers competing in the 24-hour race in a Mercedes-AMG racing car will take place there on Friday at 12:00 noon.

Line-up Mercedes-AMG, ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring*

* subject to change at short notice

ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers: Final preparatory race took place last weekend
The Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed made intensive use of the last opportunity to test on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife before the legendary 24-hour race. In the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #14 finished fifth on Saturday and secured pole position in qualifying on Sunday, finishing fourth in the race. The sister car with start number 17 also impressed: on Saturday, the team drove to an excellent second place and finished Sunday’s race in sixth place. Lucas Auer and Maro Engel were unable to take part in the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers as they were competing in the DTM race weekend at the Lausitzring at the same time.

Figures, Data, Facts

“We are travelling to the Nürburgring with great ambition and a clear goal: to secure Mercedes-AMG’s third overall victory in the history of the 24-hour race. Since our quadruple victory in 2016, we have repeatedly proven our competitiveness with our Mercedes-AMG GT3, strong driver line-ups and well-thought-out race strategies. We have always been a serious contender and have impressively underlined this with numerous podium finishes. But it has been nine years since our last overall victory – it is time to change that. With this mindset we are travelling to the Eifel region this year.”
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

“The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring stands for emotion, tradition and pure competition. With GetSpeed, we are fielding two strong performance card – despite the particular challenge posed by the tight schedule of the three major 24-hour classics at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm is also competing with a promising line-up of drivers in the SP9 PRO-AM and SP10 classes. Everyone involved has worked hard over the past few weeks. I am looking forward to the event and wish all teams and drivers a successful and safe race.”
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing 

“The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is one of the big highlights in the racing calendar. We have prepared intensively, given all drivers as much track time as possible and worked on the set-up together with the team. We have a strong car in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 – but in a race like this, you always need a bit of luck to be right up there at the front. The Nordschleife is one of my absolute favourite tracks. Not only is it extremely challenging, but it also holds a special place in my heart: I have many great memories and personal milestones in my career connected to this place. After AMG’s victory in 2016, it’s definitely time to repeat this success. I’m determined to give it my all.”
Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #14 

“The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is something special for me every year – it’s my home race. Family, friends and lots of familiar faces at the track make for a great atmosphere. The race is one of the most demanding in the world. As a fast car, you have to navigate through heavy traffic all the time. Both the team and I have already stood on the podium here three times, but we are both still missing the overall victory. Our goal is to approach the race with a sense of fun but also with focus. That is often the key to success. First of all, we need to get through the night safely. Then we will see where we stand and whether we can fight for victory again.”
Luca Stolz, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #14

“One thing is certain: this time I definitely want to compete in the race and contest my first 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. Thanks to several starts in the NLS, including a victory, I now have valuable experience on the Nordschleife. Our line-up is top notch – Adam, for example, has a wealth of experience at the Nürburgring. GetSpeed also knows the track very well. I’m really looking forward to this endurance classic.”
Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #17

“I have been returning to this special event at the Nürburgring since 2011 and was lucky enough to celebrate an overall victory in 2016 with AMG. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has felt incredibly strong on the track in recent weeks. The Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed crew has been working flat out behind the scenes, and it shows. To win here, everything has to come together perfectly: every lap at the limit, no mistakes. Without safety car phases, it’s all about consistency, pure speed and as few unplanned pit stops as possible. But this is the Nürburgring – rain, sunshine or even snow are possible, even in June. I really hope that this will be our year again.”
Adam Christodoulou, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #17