- New Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing team Iron Lynx active in FIA WEC
- FIA/ACO homologation of Mercedes-AMG GT3 enables more teams to join Le Mans grid
- Christoph Sagemüller: “We have set another milestone in our Customer Racing success story.”
New Mercedes-AMG customer team Iron Lynx will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) from the 2025 season. In the FIA WEC, the Italian team will field two Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the LMGT3 class. The team’s rebranding means Mercedes-AMG will compete in the FIA WEC in 2025 for the first time. AMG’s successful Customer Racing programme is thus being strategically expanded to include involvement in another prestigious series.
This marks also the return of the three-pointed star to Le Mans after an absence of 26 years. The spectacular endurance classic on the Circuit de la Sarthe is one of a total of eight stops on the international FIA WEC calendar. The season opener is the 1812km of Qatar on 28 February.
Since the start of this year, LMGT3 class cars have been permitted in the FIA WEC alongside Hypercars. However, the field is limited. Each manufacturer may enter a maximum of only two cars in the LMGT3 class. Iron Lynx is a long-standing partner of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and has been an integral part of the FIA WEC since 2021. The team competed in the LMGT3 class last season and was also represented in the previous LMGTE class.
“It’s no secret that we’ve been very keen for some time to bring the three-pointed star back to Le Mans. The 2025 season with the FIA WEC entry is the right moment – we are returning to the Sarthe after 26 years! Our successful Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the experienced Iron Lynx team is the right pairing and we have set another milestone in our Customer Racing success story.”
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 must fulfil special homologation criteria for the LMGT3 class of the FIA WEC in order to compete as Mercedes-AMG LMGT3. These include the use of drive shafts with torque sensors and the associated development work. Wind tunnel tests are also necessary to ensure compliance with the stipulated FIA WEC performance window. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport has already initiated the necessary processes, which will be completed by the start of the new season.
FIA/ACO homologation of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 also opens up new sporting opportunities for all other Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Teams. Good placings and corresponding results in the championships affiliated to the ACO give the teams the chance to secure a place on the starting grid at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. ACO’s cooperations with SRO Motorsports Group and IMSA also enable qualification for the 24 Hours of Le Mans by their respective platforms.
“I would like to thank ACO, FIA and Iron Lynx for the focused discussions. The FIA WEC entry is extremely positive news for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing as a whole. Homologation of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the LMGT3 class means all other customer teams now also have the chance to secure a place on the grid at the endurance classic in Le Mans.”
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing
