The season highlight for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing is getting closer: from 20-23 June, the 47th running of the legendary 24-hour race will be taking place at the Nürburgring. The 160-car field includes seven Mercedes-AMG GT3s. Thus, Mercedes-AMG is one of the manufacturers with the largest representation in the SP9 class. Two cars of the Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON have already been able to secure their slots for top qualifying: the #2 entry with Adam Christodoulou (GBR), Maro Engel, Manuel Metzger and Dirk Müller (all GER) as well as the #3 with Maximilian Buhk, Hubert Haupt, Thomas Jäger and Luca Stolz (all GER). During the race weekend, the further cars (1x Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON, 1x Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER, 3x GetSpeed Performance) will be aiming at one of the coveted top qualifying slots during qualifying to obtain a good starting grid position for the race twice around the clock.
Teams have a turbulent preparation stage behind them, in which there were not only podium and top ten results, but also setbacks. Changeable weather and collisions were the reason that less mileage on the Nordschleife could be racked up than planned. Dominik Baumann was particularly unlucky: due to injury, the Austrian has to refrain from participating in the 24-hour race, but will still be on site to support his team and AMG at the race track.
The extended Mercedes-AMG line-up also includes a pair of GT4s. With the #70, the BLACK FALCON Team IDENTICA intends to repeat its SP10 class win from last year’s 24-hour race. Meanwhile, the #46 car of the das BLACK FALCON Team KNUFFI is racing in the SP8T category, another class that saw a Mercedes-AMG GT4 winning in 2018.
The first official activity for the drivers in the 24-hour race is the traditional ‘Racing Day’ in the near-by city of Adenau on Wednesday (19 June). In and around the paddock, fans can also look forward to an attractive support programme from Mercedes-AMG during the race. The Fan Base at the north entrance of the paddock serves as the central port of call. Access to the brand experience world with a floor space of approximately 1,500 square metres is free for all spectators with a valid event ticket.
From Friday until Sunday, there is a wealth of activities here, ranging from the pit stop challenge via photo actions up to the official autograph session of the Mercedes-AMG drivers that will take place on Friday (21 June) at 13.00 hrs. There will be regular live interviews and the race can be watched on a large video screen in the beer garden. On top of that, fascinating performance cars by Mercedes-AMG are on display at the Fan Base, including rare special-series models and interesting novelties. Further cars are on display in the Mercedes-AMG showroom (ring°boulevard).
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: “With seven Mercedes-AMG GT3s, our presence is as strong as in 2018, in which we were able to secure a double podium finish. I am convinced that we will once again be in contention for victory this year. The world’s biggest and probably also toughest race is a perfect platform for Mercedes-AMG to showcase the performance of our cars whilst also sharing the unique spirit of our brands with the many fans that are expected. We are really looking forward to the 24-hour race and we wish our drivers and teams the best of luck.”
Seán Paul Breslin, team principal Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON: “At the Nürburgring, predictions are always difficult. Here, simply everything can happen, as we have seen during preparation. Our drivers have been able to rack up less mileage at the Nordschleife than in previous years. However, they all know the track so well that this isn’t really a problem. Our plan is to do a good job and stay away from all the difficulties. Our goal is clear: we want to win the race, for ourselves and for Mercedes-AMG.”
Norbert Brückner, team principal Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER: “In motorsport, success can’t be planned and in the Nürburgring 24-hour race even less so. You can prepare meticulously and try to take into account every aspect that can be calculated, but there are also uncertainties that you can’t protect yourself against and that can upset your entire planning for the race. Given our strong drivers and the qualities of the Mercedes-AMG GT3, we feel that we are well prepared and we are optimistic going into the endurance racing classic in the Eifel. Then, the 24 hours will reveal everything else.”
Adam Osieka, team principal GetSpeed Performance: “Having changed to Mercedes-AMG for this season, we obviously had some work to do. We have worked hard and already have achieved quite something as well. Co-operation is working out fine, something that makes me really happy. We will be running three cars with well-balanced driver line-ups in the 24-hour race. When we make it through without too any issues, a top-7 result is a realistic goal. That would be a super result for us as a new team with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.“
Source. Mercedes
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