In the fifth round of the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft, the HARIBO Racing Team Mercedes-AMG scores a top-five result with the #8 Mercedes-AMG GT3. In the ROWE 6 Stunden ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen, Edward Sandström (SWE), Luca Stolz (GER) and Renger van der Zande (NED) finish in fourth place. Moreover, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 has a successful competition debut with a class win in the SPX class at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
HARIBO Racing Team Mercedes-AMG finishes in fourth place
Two Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the top 10
Mercedes-AMG GT4 with class win in the SPX class
Endurance test in racing conditions provides valuable insights
Nürburg – For Mercedes-AMG, the season highlight of the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring was a successful affair: in the ROWE 6 Stunden ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen, there were not only three Mercedes-AMG GT3, but for the first time also two Mercedes-AMG GT4 on the grid. The new family members in the GT segment successfully completed their test laps in racing conditions. The #8 Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by the HARIBO Racing Team Mercedes-AMG crossed the finish line in fourth place.
In qualifying, the Bonn-based team had already shown that the cars of the performance brand from Affalterbach had to be counted in for the race: Renger van der Zande (NED) drove the starting number 8 into second place on the grid, only 0.006 seconds down. The Dutchman also took the start of the race, had a great getaway and took the lead of the field with a top-class entry. A stop-and-go penalty due an insufficient pit stop time made van der Zande, who led after one hour, drop back to fourth place. Moreover, many code 60s and the continuously changeable weather conditions in the Eifel with several brief rain showers led to numerous lead changes and a very exciting race. Unfazed by the external conditions, his team-mates Luca Stolz (GER) and Edward Sandström (SWE) also showed a faultless performance. Final driver van der Zande eventually drove the #8 Mercedes-AMG across the line in fourth place after 38 laps, only missing out on third place by merely eleven seconds.
BLACK FALCON scored the second top 10 finish for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport: Mercedes-AMG driver Adam Christodoulou (GBR), Hubert Haupt (GER) and Manuel Metzger (GER) completed 37 laps of the 24.358 kilometres long VLN track lay-out of the Eifel circuit and drove the #7 Mercedes-AMG GT3 to sixth place. Landgraf Motorsport missed out on another top ten result. The #44 Mercedes-AMG GT3 crashed at the exit of Fuchsröhre while in ninth place.
Mercedes-AMG GT4 with a class win at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife
For the first time, the 168 participants strong field also included a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT4. In order to acquire valuable data in the endurance test in racing conditions, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport relied on long-standing partners from GT3 racing. The Mercedes-AMG Testteam Uwe Alzen Automotive in particular contributed to a successful race debut: Fabian Hamprecht, Mercedes-AMG Test and Development Driver Thomas Jäger and Mike Stursberg (all GER) drove the #54 Mercedes-AMG GT4 across the finish line in first place of the SPX class. In the overall classification, the team led by Uwe Alzen ended up 16th with 35 laps completed. The great race and the class win during the development stage are a positive sign for the further test outings. The Mercedes-AMG Testteam BLACK FALCON also showed the potential of the new family member. After a successful progress from 50th place on the grid, Mercedes-AMG Test and Development Driver Jan Seyffarth (GER) handed the #52 Mercedes-AMG GT4 to team-mate Alexander Toril (ESP) in 16th place. One hour before the end of the race, the car with starting number #52 had to retire due to minor difficulties.
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: “We are very happy with the performance of the Mercedes-AMG GT4 at this point in the test phase. Starting number 54 was able to drive a trouble-free race and already showed a promising reliability of the car. At the same time, we have still find some points for improvement, of course. We will do everything to make further progress in the next test races. My thanks go out to the two test teams and our development partner HWA who have been doing a great job so far. And let’s not forget all the employees of Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, who have laid the foundation of the car with the development of the Mercedes-AMG GT R.
With the Mercedes-AMG GT3, it was a very thrilling race in which we missed out on a podium finish by just eleven seconds. The constantly changing weather conditions turned the race into a lottery. With some more racing luck, a podium finish would have been within reach for us, but we are already looking forward to the next VLN rounds at the Nordschleife.”
Renger van der Zande, HARIBO Racing Team Mercedes-AMG #8: “I had a great start and I was able to take the lead. Then, the weather made the tyre choice extremely difficult as rain and sunshine alternated all the time. At the end of the race, I was still able to make up time to the team in third place, but it wasn’t fully enough. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed racing the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in these conditions at the Nordschleife, it was fun.”
Thomas Jäger, Mercedes-AMG Testteam Uwe Alzen Automotive #54: “I am very happy with our first race with the new Mercedes-AMG GT4. We have learned an incredible lot. It was the first test at the Nordschleife in the rain. The car has shown a good level of reliability. The drivers dealt with the car very well and were able to post really good lap times in these difficult conditions and they praised our good development work. Of course, we will optimise the car further with the insights from today.”
Jan Seyffarth, Mercedes-AMG Testteam BLACK FALCON #52: “For us, it was important that we were able to rack up many miles in testing today. We have put the Mercedes-AMG GT4 through a real endurance test today in order to prepare it for our customers in the best possible way. For us, today’s result is only of secondary importance. Everything went well and also the brief halt in the pits is part of the game, that is why we are doing this test in racing conditions. We want that our customers step out of the car with a wide grin and we are on a very good way to achieve that.”
