- 12-hour race also kicks off the 2025 Intercontinental GT Challenge
- Mercedes-AMG the most strongly represented brand in the field with eight cars
- INTERFERENCE: Mercedes-AMG Team GMR presents GT3 car with a special look
After a 120-day break, the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) starts the new season. The prestigious series kicks off in Bathurst, Australia, from January 30 to February 2. The prestigious Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will provide the setting. Vehicles from nine different manufacturers are entered in the 22nd edition of the endurance classic. Six classes have been announced for the 12-hour race: Pro, Pro Am, Bronze, Silver Cup, GT4 and Invitational.
Mercedes-AMG the most strongly represented brand in the field of participants
Mercedes-AMG will be represented at the Mount Panorama Circuit by eight teams, each fielding one car and competing in four different categories. The two Performance Teams Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing and Mercedes-AMG Team GMR as well as 75 Express and Scott Taylor Motorsport will be competing in the Pro class.
Grove Racing and Heart of Racing by SPS have entered two cars in the Bronze category. Supabarn Supermarkets/Tigani Motorsport will enter a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Silver Cup, Team Nineteen in the GT4 classification. AMG has great ambitions to compete for overall victory in Australia and bring the title back to Affalterbach. The last victory in the Australian endurance classic was two years ago.
Line-up Mercedes-AMG, 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour
| No. | Team | Driver | Class |
| 4 | Grove Racing | Brenton Grove (AUS) Stephen Grove (AUS) Fabian Schiller (GER) | Bronze |
| 27 | Heart of Racing by SPS | Ross Gunn (GBR) Ian James (GBR) Zacharie Robichon (CAN) | Bronze |
| 19 | Team Nineteen | Daniel Bilski (FIA) Adam Christodoulou (GBR) Mark Griffith (AUS) | GT4 |
| 47 | Supabarn Supermarkets / Tigani Motorsport | James Koundouris (AUS) Theo Koundouris (AUS) David Russell (AUS) Luke Youlden (AUS) | Silver-Cup |
| 75 | 75 Express | Jules Gounon (AND) Kenny Habul (AUS) Luca Stolz (GER) | Pro |
| 77 | Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing | Lucas Auer (AUT) Maximilian Götz (GER) Jayden Ojeda (AUS) | Pro |
| 222 | Scott Taylor Motorsport | Craig Lowndes (AUS) Thomas Randle (AUS) Cameron Waters (AUS) | Pro |
| 888 | Mercedes-AMG Team GMR | Maro Engel (GER) Mikaël Grenier (CAN) Maxime Martin (BEL) | Pro |
Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour also kicks off the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC)
The IGTC has been held since 2016 and will enter its tenth season in 2025. This year’s race calendar once again includes five stops, which will be held on four continents. The opening race will take place for the ninth time at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst. Mercedes-AMG celebrated winning the manufacturers’ championship in the IGTC in 2022 and 2023 and a total of three Pro and four Pro Am drivers’ titles since 2016. Australian Kenny Habul is the record champion with four Pro Am championships.
Joint design project between Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and Team GMR
The Mercedes-AMG Team GMR from Hong Kong is entering its performance car in a special design at the Bathurst 12 Hour. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 #888 has a striking retro look. Inspired by the optic of a TV color test image, combined with elements of modernity, the result is a livery called “INTERFERENCE”.
Figures, Data, Facts
| Opening of Mount Panorama Circuit: 1938 |
| Length of Mount Panorama Circuit: 6.213 km (current layout) |
| Track layout: – The circuit runs partly over public roads, which are closed for racing – Two long, fast straights, up to 16% gradient, elevation difference of 174 m – Number of corners: 23 |
| Premiere Bathurst 12 Hour: 1991 (2025: 22nd edition) – The race did not take place in 1995-2007 and 2021 – With GT3 participation since 2011 |
| Race wins Mercedes-AMG Bathurst 12 Hour: 3 – 2013: Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jäger, Alexander Roloff (Erebus Motorsport, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3) – 2022: Jules Gounon, Kenny Habul, Martin Konrad, Luca Stolz (Triple Eight Race Engineering, Mercedes-AMG GT3) – 2023: Jules Gounon, Kenny Habul, Luca Stolz (SunEnergy1 Akkodis ASP Team, Mercedes-AMG GT3) |
| Timing – Qualifying: Saturday, February 1, 2025, 03:05 CET (13:05 local time) – Pirelli Pole Battle (shootout of the top 10 qualifiers): Saturday, February 1, 2025, 06:05 CET (16:05 local time) – Race start: Sunday, February 1, 2025, 19:45 CET (Sunday, February 2, 2025, 05:45 local time) |
| Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing and Mercedes-AMG Team GMR start as Mercedes-AMG Performance Teams |
| Mercedes-AMG premieres at Bathurst: – Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Lucas Auer to race at Bathurst for the first time – Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Fabian Schiller will compete in a GT3 for the first time in 2025, having raced in a GT4 with Griffith Corporation in 2023 – Australian Jayden Ojeda drives his first race as a Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver |
| Maro Engel holds the lap record with his lap of 2:00:8819 set in qualifying 2023 |
| Number of drivers – who drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3: 22 – who drive a Mercedes-AMG GT4: 3 – of which 12 drivers drive under the Australian flag |
| Number of Australian teams: 5 – Grove Racing – Team Nineteen – Supabarn Supermarkets/Tigani Motorsport – 75 Express (American-Australian team) – Scott Taylor Motorsport |
| IGTC stations 2025: 5 – Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS, 02.02.2025) – ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (GER, 19. – 22.06.2025) – CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa (BEL, 26. – 29.06.2025) – 1000 km Suzuka (JAP, 14.09.2025) – Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS (USA, 18.10.2025) |
| IGTC Winner Manufacturers’ Championship: 2 (2022, 2023) |
| Total IGTC Mercedes-AMG titles: 7 IGTC Winner Drivers’ Championship Pro: 3 – 2018: Tristan Vautier – 2022: Daniel Juncadella – 2023: Jules GounonIGTC Winner Drivers’ Championship Pro Am: 4 – 2018: Kenny Habul – 2019: Kenny Habul – 2021: Mikaël Grenier, Kenny Habul, Martin Konrad – 2022: Kenny Habul, Martin Konrad |
| The only race to have been a constant part of the IGTC since 2016: 24 Hours of Spa |
„The track layout at Bathurst is very challenging. The fast straights and tight chicanes require maximum precision. I am very confident that we can set up our Mercedes-AMG GT3 perfectly for this. As the opening round of the IGTC, this race is very important for us as well as for our customers. The common aim is for sure to win the race and thus lay the foundations for a successful IGTC season.”
Stefan Wendl, Leiter Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing
“I’m looking forward to racing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Bathurst. It’s a cool race and a very special atmosphere thanks to the many fans at the track. I will help the Australian father-son duo in their home race to understand the car and quickly find the right set-up. We will approach the race by not driving at maximum pace and taking full risks from the beginning, trying to avoid mistakes and damages and get the car into a good window quickly.”
Fabian Schiller, Grove Racing #4
„We have to fly from Daytona all over the world to go to Bathurst and to race 12 hours at the demanding Mount Panorama Circuit in the heat of Bathurst between the walls. It`s exhausting, but a challenge we all love. I was on the podium down under since 2020. I think that’s quite unusual and crazy. Last year we finished second and my goal is definitely to finish first again this year.”
Jules Gounon, 75 Express #77
„Bathurst is the greatest track of the world, the most demanding, the most dangerous and the most exciting racetrack. Thanks to Mercedes-AMG for supporting me at my homerace and to make two wins and two seconds in the past. Again, I have great teammates, a wonderful team behind and the same car as the last two years. So I hope for the very best result.”
Kenny Habul, 75 Express #77
“It is my very first time at the 12 Hours of Bathurst. With our strong line-up, we have a lot of potential to be successful in this race. The Mount Panorama Circuit looks to be a beautiful circuit based on the laps I have done through simulator training. I can’t wait to be there in person soon.”
Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing #77
“My first event as a Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver also happens to be my home race which is truly surreal and an incredible feeling. It`s an honor to representing such a prestigious brand. Together with Craft-Bamboo Racing I will be giving my all each and every lap of the mountain to win the race. Bathurst is an intense race and the nature of the track is unforgiving. You have to work hard for a good result, which is why us drivers love this event so much.”
Jayden Ojeda, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing #77
“The Mount Panorama Circuit is definitely one of the most difficult circuits in the world and, along with the Nordschleife and Macau, is one of my personal Top three. Any small mistake can have major consequences. I’m really looking forward to the race. I still hold the lap record in Bathurst with my qualifying lap from 2023, but I’m missing the win. And I will give it my all this weekend. One thing is certain: we will definitely stand out with our cool, very distinctive car livery.”
Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GMR #888
