Biggest ever Mercedes-AMG presence set for Bathurst 12 Hour

Six Mercedes-AMG GT3 racecars will spearhead the Mercedes-AMG presence at the 2019 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-Hour Race in what will be the performance and sportscar brand’s biggest entry to date in the endurance classic.

The six entries will contest the marquee ‘A’ class and include the Mercedes-AMG Team Vodafone GT3, to be piloted by seven-time V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup alongside Shane van Gisbergen and 2018 Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes, in a joint entry with the highly regarded Triple Eight Race Engineering squad.

Other notable drivers to race under the Mercedes-AMG banner will include factory drivers Maro Engel, Thomas Jäger and 2018 DTM Champion Gary Paffett, plus 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner David Reynolds.

Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: “The Intercontinental GT Challenge is a highly attractive series. All the five endurance races are very demanding and the effort from our rivals is even bigger than in previous years. As a result, repeating our achievements from 2018 will not be easy, but we will do our utmost. We have put together a super strong driver line-up and numerically, wehave our biggest presence in the GT3 field for the Bathurst season opener. Therefore, our expectations are at least as high as our anticipation.”

For the fifth consecutive year, Mercedes-AMG will supply the Safety and Course cars to assist with the smooth running of the event. The high-powered field will be corralled by C 43 Course cars, and the mighty E 63 S 4MATIC+ Safety Car, which in 2019 will feature the logo of Australia’s official crash-testing organisation, ANCAP. This is in tribute to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which received the highestrecommendation from the organisation of any vehicle which went on sale in 2018 to be awarded the coveted five-star crash safety rating.

Horst von Sanden, CEO and Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacific, said the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-Hour Race is always a highlight of the company’s calendar. “This year marks the highest number of Mercedes-AMG vehicle entries, accompanied by a strong line-up of local, international and factory drivers,” he said.

“It promises to be another exciting weekend for our customers and racing enthusiasts in Australia, and the many fans watching from around the world. The iconic Mount Panorama racetrack is also an ideal location for Mercedes-AMG to emphasise the importance it places on safety in motorsport, as supplier of the official Bathurst 12-Hour Safety Car in the form of the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+.”

Fans attending the Bathurst 12-Hour Race will be the first in Australia to see the Mercedes-AMG GT4, a fully-fledged racing car designed for accessible entry to customer racing.

The AMG GT4 will be displayed at the AMG Boutique in Harris Park, the Mount Panorama circuit’s entry and retail precinct, along with other coveted models in the Mercedes-AMG family. Race fans will again have the opportunity to purchase official Mercedes-AMG merchandise from the AMG Boutique.

Mercedes-AMG will also host 200 customers at its exclusive rooftop lounge at the Hotel Rydges Mount Panorama, which overlooks the famous ‘Chase’ and commands sweeping views of the circuit.

Confirmed Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries for the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-HourRace:#19 - Griffith Corp. Team Nineteen, Black FalconMark Griffth, Yelmer Buurman, Christina Nielsen#75 - SunEnergy1 RacingKenny Habul, Tristan Vautier, Thomas Jaeger#77 - Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo Black FalconMaro Engel, Luca Stolz, Gary Paffett#777 - The Bend Motorsport ParkYasser Shahin, David Reynolds, Luke Youlden#888 - Mercedes-AMG Team VodafoneCraig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen#999 - Mercedes-AMG Team MANN FILTER GruppeM RacingMaximillian Buhk, Raffaele Marciello, Maximillian Goetz