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maggio 09, 2022 - Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed charges to victory in 24h Nürburgring dress rehearsal

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With two three-hour qualification races, the dress rehearsal for the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring took place this weekend. In the Sunday race, the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed entry with Adam Christodoulou (GBR), #maximiliangotz (GER) and Fabian Schiller (GER) brought home a long-awaited victory following a strong recovery drive. On the previous day, #maroengel (GER), Jules Gounon (FRA) and Daniel Juncadella (ESP) had already scored a podium result with the #4 sister car. In the upcoming 50th running of the 24-hour race, Mercedes-AMG Teams Bilstein, GetSpeed and Landgraf as well as CP #racing and Schnitzelalm #racing are in the field with a first-class driver line-up and a total of seven Mercedes-AMG GT3s.

  • #3 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed car wins three-hour race on Sunday
  • In the Saturday race, the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 secures a podium result in third
  • Seven Mercedes-AMG GT3s with high-quality line-up to race on the Nordschleife at the end of May

Three weeks prior to the 50th running of the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the traditional qualifying event took place this weekend. At the occasion of the anniversary, the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers were held with a new format for the first time this year: in two qualification races of three hours each, the goal for the five Mercedes-AMG Customer #racing Teams was to secure a good position for the Top 30 qualfiying of the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring.

Moreover, the 24h Qualifiers served as a final assessment for all participants prior to the season highlight at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. To this end, the schedule for the past three days included a total of eleven hours of #racing at the track with its long tradition. The Mercedes-AMG customer sport teams also rehearsed relevant procedures once again this weekend and used the final opportunity to set up their cars in the best possible way for the 24-hour race at the end of May.

Race 2: Early pit stop enables Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed to claim victory

After a top qualifying on Sunday morning that wasn’t ideal, Fabian Schiller started the second three-hour race from twelfth place with the best-placed Mercedes-AMG GT3, the #3 Mercedes-AMG Teams GetSpeed car. With the #4 sister car, #maroengel even started the Sunday race from last place in the SP9 class.

Given these starting grid positions, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed opted for an early pit stop: both cars were called in simultaneously after 45 minutes to be able to make up ground with fresh tyres. This strategy was to pay off. As the front-running group lost time due to duels at this stage of the race and some of the rivalling cars incurred damage, Adam Christodoulou (#3) and Daniel Juncadella (#4) surprisingly moved up into the lead following the pit stop phase.

In an action-packed final part of the race, the team then experienced an emotional roller-coaster: first of all, Jules Gounon had to park his #4 Mercedes-AMG GT4 due to damage while on course for a podium finish. Meanwhile, #maximiliangotz with the #3 car brought his position home in a commanding way and rewared himself and his Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed with victory in the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour race.

The #34 Schnitzelalm #racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 finished tenth after three thrilling hours in the Green Hell. As a result, Marek Böckmann, Kenneth Heyer (both GER), Yannick Mettler (SUI) and Johannes Stengel (GER), who will also be taking on the event at the end of May in this combination, ended up in second place of the Pro-Am classification at the same time.

Race 1: #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 secures podium finish in Saturday race

Repeated rain showers marked the first race of the weekend on Saturday evening. Nevertheless, the six Mercedes-AMG GT3s coped well with these inconsistent weather conditions in the Eifel and continuously worked their way up through the ranks in the course of the three-hour race. Having started from sixth place on the grid with the #4 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed car, #maroengel, Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon, finished the race in third position.

In the Pro-Am category, meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG Customer #racing Teams achieved a considerable double podium finish. Julien Apotheloz (SUI), #patrickassenheimer (GER), Dominik Baumann (AUT) and Luca-Sandro Trefz (GER) drove the #55 Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf to second place in class, Schnitzelalm #racing finished third.

The preparation weekend started with a moment of shock on Friday. Following an accident, the Mercedes-AMG Teams Bilstein entry with starting number 12 was no longer able to participate in the competition. Driver  Manuel Metzger was taken to hospital for safety reasons and for further treatment. Given the circumstances, he is doing well.

Mercedes-AMG Fan Base presents a comprehensive programme for the return of the spectators

Another highlight for this year’s running of the 24h race at the Nürburgring is the return of the spectators along the entire circuit as well as in the paddock. After an enforced two-year break, the fans along the Nordschleife will create the atmosophere again that is making this event so special and unique in the world. The well-known Mercedes-AMG Fan Base in the paddock will be opening its doors for the motorsport enthusiasts again. An entertainment programme, the traditional autograph session with all the drivers of the  Mercedes-AMG Customer #racing Teams and an exclusive car display will leave nothing to be desired among the visitors.

Christoph Sagemüller, head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport: “For us as a brand, the 50th running of the 24-hour race is all about AMG’s 55th anniversary. At the occasion of this anniversary, our fans can look forward to a great programme away from the track as well. In our Fan Base, there are some things to experience including a display of unique cars from our portfolio, some of them being shown in public for the first time. In sporting terms, we want to repeat our victory from Sunday in this prestigious race, of course. However, the result becomes less significant when it is about health. I am really relieved that Manuel Metzger is doing well, given the circumstances, after his accident. The entire AMG team wishes him a good and speedy recovery.”

Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer #racing: “First of all, I wish Manuel a speedy recovery and I hope he will be able to get back in the car really soon. Of course, victory in the Sunday race here is fantastic. That is a huge load coming off our shoulders. Nevertheless, we know that we didn’t have the fastest car, but that this victory is the result of a perfect strategy, clever decisions and a balanced driver performance. We still have some work to do and have to use the next three weeks for preparation, but we are optimistic going into the 24-hour race.”

Maro Engel, driver, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #3: “This weekend already was the right way to get in the mood for the 24h race with the various highs and lows that the Nürburgring has in store. Of course, we are happy with the result on Saturday. The cooperation with Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed is working really well and the team is highly motivated. Two, three minor things weren’t one hundred percent right yet, but that is what the two qualification races are there for anyway.”

Further information in the press release to download