Mercedes-AMG to tackle Bathurst 12 Hour
For its season opener, the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) will return to the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst this weekend. The field for the 12-hour race includes six Mercedes-AMG GT3s, run by as many different customer sport teams. First and foremost is the Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo Racing that has extended works support from Affalterbach for the event. The two Mercedes-AMG drivers, Maro Engel (GER) and Daniel Juncadella (ESP), and Kevin Tse (MAC) will alternate behind the wheel of the #91 Mercedes-AMG GT3, competing in the Pro-Am class.
Three cars will be represented in the Pro-Am category. Drivers of the #19 Nineteen Corporation Mercedes-AMG GT3 are Will Brown, Mark Griffith and Jack Perkins (all AUS). SunEnergy1 Racing’s #75 car has an experienced quartet consisting of defending Bathurst race winner Jules Gounon (FRA), Kenny Habul (AUS), Martin Konrad (AUT) and Luca Stolz (GER). Triple Eight Race Engineering has the team’s own #888 Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Broc Feeney (AUS), Shane van Gisbergen (NZL) and Prince Jefri Ibrahim (MAS).
The #45 RAM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Brett Hobson, Michael Sheargold and Garth Walden and the #55 Valmont Racing GT3 with Duvashen Padayachee, Sergio Pires and Marcel Zalloua (all AUS) will battle for Am class honours.
After two 15-minute qualifying sessions, followed by a pole shootout, teams will start the 12-hour race on 5.15 am on Sunday, local time.
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, said the team is delighted to return to Mount Panorama. “This extraordinary circuit and the unique backdrop is a highlight on our motorsport calendar every single year and a great start of the challenging IGTC. Our teams come with a good mix of experience and ability so that we expect to have good chances of top results in this unique race. I wish our customer sport teams good luck for the race and a good start of the IGTC season.”
Since 2015, a safety car from Affalterbach has led the Bathurst 12 Hour field for the formation lap. This weekend, the current Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ will again be employed, putting its 450 kW (612 hp) 4.0 litre V8 biturbo engine and the fully variable 4 MATIC+ four-wheel drive to good use.
In this year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge season, three further endurance races on three different continents will follow the Bathurst 12 Hour. Round two, the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, will be held at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps from 28 to 31 July. From 7 to 9 October, the series will visit Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 8 Hour, while the season finale will be held at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit near Johannesburg from 1 to 3 December.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 2022 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour
| Nr. | Team | Drivers | Category |
| 19 | Nineteen Corporation Pty Ltd | Will Brown (AUS), Mark Griffith (AUS), Jack Perkins (AUS) | Pro-Am |
| 45 | RAM Motorsport | Brett Hobson (AUS), Michael Sheargold (AUS), Garth Walden (AUS) | Am |
| 55 | Valmont Racing | Duvashen Padayachee (AUS), Sergio Pires (AUS), Marcel Zalloua (AUS) | Am |
| 75 | SunEnergy1 Racing | Jules Gounon (FRA), Kenny Habul (AUS), Martin Konrad (AUT), Luca Stolz (GER) | Pro-Am |
| 91 | Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing | Maro Engel (GER), Daniel Juncadella (ESP), Kevin Tse (MAC) | Pro-Am |
| 888 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Broc Feeney (AUS), Shane van Gisbergen (NZL), Prince Jefri Ibrahim (MAS) | Pro-Am |
