3.7.2019. For half of the year, Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, a first balance sheet and takes a look ahead to the highlights of the second half of the season.
Content
- This is what happened: results & facts
- News splitter
- 3 questions to Stefan Wendl
- Stefan, the 24-hour race in 2019 at the Nurburgring, there was exciting racing action, a number of setbacks but in the end so back to success for Mercedes to celebrate AMG. How would you rate this year’s Highlight in the Eifel?
- With Spa the next 24-hours-a Highlight waits at the end of July is already upon us. Can You tell us something of the appearance of Mercedes-AMG?
- In the framework of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-the new Mercedes was unveiled-AMG GT3. This coming weekend, the new GT3 car from Affalterbach is contesting his first Test under race conditions at the 24 hours of Portimao, the Creventic series. What are the drivers and customer teams can look forward to?
- Social Media News
This is what happened: results & facts
Formula 1: Valtteri Bottas drives during the Austrian Grand Prix on the Podium
Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe: double podium for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the first race in Misano
GT4 European Series: Mercedes-AMG GT4 is a driving in both races at the Misano World Circuit victory
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Jeroen Bleekemolen, James Cox, and Dylan Murry win the race in Watkins Glen
China GT Championship: Two wins for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Shanghai International Circuit
News splitter
Double podium and class win in the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe: In Misano, Italy was able to continue Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, his streak of success in the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe. On Saturday, the Duo had worried about Raffaele Marciello (ITA) and Vincent Abril (MON) for Furore and the race to 60 minutes on the second place finished at the finish in tenth seconds were missing only to victory. Luca Stolz and Maro Engel (both GER) drove right behind it on rank three, and made the double podium for Mercedes AMG perfectly. On Sunday, claimed angel/Proud by the fourth rank, including the fastest lap of the race the lead in the drivers and the team championship BLACK FALCON in the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe. In addition, Nico Bastian (GER) and Thomas Neubauer (FRA), which had to 19th Position in the race secured, after an impressive fightback to claim the class win and the Silver Cup competition scores fall. The day before already, Fabian Schiller (GER) and Timur Boguslavskiy (RUS) had celebrated the class victory in the Silver Cup.
So at the Misano World Circuit Lee Mowle scored on Saturday with a podium success in the Blancpain GT Sports Club. In his Mercedes-AMG GT3 of the British for ERC sports took the second place. The race on Sunday had to end Mowle in the lead of the race early because of an accident.
Mercedes-AMG dominated the GT4 European Series With a double podium for Mercedes-AMG has crowned on Sunday, a successful racing weekend in the GT4 European Series. In a dramatic Finish Max Koebolt (NED) and Jan Kisiel (POL) won by Leipert Motorsport against the competition and show in the championship is now in first place in the Silver Cup. In third place is Mercedes-AMG pilots, made a successful race perfectly, followed with Alex Lambertz (GER) and Romain Monti (FRA) of Team Bullitt Racing. Both Bullitt Racing as well as Leipert Motorsport had already dominated the race on Saturday – albeit in a changed order. After 60 minutes, Lambertz and Monti were in first place, Koebolt and Kisiel rank four, and the third class, third place. For Bullitt Racing, it is the first Triumph of the season in 2019.
Victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Riley Motorsports drove in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, the first victory of the Season. In the US-American Watkins Glen, Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED), James Cox (USA) and Dylan Murry (USA) won against the entire field of participants, and are ranked according to the four-hour race is now on place five in the team standings. With 121 points, Mercedes-AMG is also a leader in the constructors ‘ championship. In addition, Indy Dontje (NED) secured in the Mercedes-AMG GT4 #33 of Winward Racing / HTP Motorsport, Pole Position. The race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship six hours of the Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports came out, however, due to a no fault accident into the goal.
Top-Three placement in the Super GT: Super GT in Thailand’s Buriram LEON RACING was on a podium to look forward to. The Team of Naoya Gamou, and Haruki Kurosawa (both JPN) came in after 66 rounds third and slides thanks to the so far best result of sixth place in the drivers ‘ standings. In the teams ‘ standings, LEON Racing is currently in the fifth place.
A almost perfect weekend of racing in the China GT Championship At China GT Championship, Mercedes-AMG celebrated three victories in four races. In the case of the GT3 races were won by Mercedes-AMG driver Adam Christodoulou (GBR) and Eric Zang (CHN) Toro Racing in the first race, the race win in the second race, Alessio Picariello (BEL) and Jeffrey Lee (THA) celebrated by the Team at EMS Craft-Bamboo Racing. With a third-place complete EMS Craft-Bamboo Racing (race one) and YC Racing (race two) the double-podium after 60 minutes of the race at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The weekend what topped off by a Double victory in the GT4 class successfully: The Mercedes-AMG GT4 #6 was won by Sunny Wong (HKG) and Rainey He Xiaole (CHN) in front of the sister car with the start number 5 by Phantom Pro Racing and the drivers, Alex Fontana (CH), and Christian Chia (CHN). The Team leads the championship standings, current scores.
3 questions to Stefan Wendl
After the 24-hour race is the race before the 24 hours. Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, looks back on the two Highlights of the Motorsport calendar by Mercedes-AMG or advance and gives us more Details on the new Mercedes-AMG GT3, the next weekend in Portimao (5.-7. July) the first Test under race conditions is completed.
Stefan, the 24-hour race in 2019 at the Nurburgring, there was exciting racing action, a number of setbacks but in the end so back to success for Mercedes to celebrate AMG. How would you rate this year’s Highlight in the Eifel?
Stefan Wendl: to drive on the Nürburgring on the platform, you must fit a lot of factors: You need a reliable vehicle, a well-prepared Team and to error-free driver crew. Success in Motorsport is not predictable, especially on the Nordschleife, and therefore it was for us also not a matter of course, how to drive in the previous year, again on the Podium. Therefore, we are very happy about the third place overall of the BLACK FALCON, as well as the class victory with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 class victory for the second year in a row in the SP10 area. Of course, it is very unfortunate that we are eliminated, in principle, with a further four vehicles from the race, which are also along for the ride, at least for the Podium or even the overall victory. All in all, we can be with our performance, the Podium, the class victory and two Pole Positions we have achieved in the Top-Qualifying, very pleased and have once again demonstrated the strength of our vehicles, team and drivers.
With Spa the next 24-hours-a Highlight waits at the end of July is already upon us. Can You tell us something of the appearance of Mercedes-AMG?
Stefan Wendl: We are back with strong Teams and drivers at the Start and go with ten vehicles of AKKA, ASP, BLACK FALCON, good smile Racing Groups, Racing, RAM Racing, Scuderia Villorba Corse STRAKKA Racing well prepared for the race. The finishing touches of the Teams and drivers complete with the annual test days on the track in Spa-Francorchamps. The competition is very large and the power density is extremely high – it is probably the most sophisticated GT3 race in the world. After the victory in 2013 with the SLS AMG GT3 is the time that again are – this Time with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.
In the framework of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-the new Mercedes was unveiled-AMG GT3. This coming weekend, the new GT3 car from Affalterbach is contesting his first Test under race conditions at the 24 hours of Portimao, the Creventic series. What are the drivers and customer teams can look forward to?
Stefan Wendl: a high-performance, well-engineered and great driving vehicle! In addition to the new appearance, we were able to optimize many of the Details, the of both Teams as well as drivers come to be Good. To name a few improvements, example: Faster adjustment of the Front splitter, quick release for rear wings, a new air filter with improved access, or a System for the automatic Tracking of running times, which is a world first in this Segment. The driver can control, for example, to optimized ABS with traction, lights, powerful headlights, the new Drop-Start function or on a seat and helmet ventilation features. Our focus was therefore on reducing the operating costs for the Teams, as this Segment is in the hard-fought GT3 becoming more and more important. At the 24 hours of Portimao, the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 will take a first important Test in the hands of the customer sports drivers. We would like to thank Creventic for the Chance to be the test vehicle without FIA Homologation call. We take into account, that we will have in class SP4 is no Chance of a placement in the Top 5. Rik Breukers, Hubert Haupt, Kenneth Heyer and Charles Putman wants to share the steering Wheel with Mercedes-AMG driver Maximilian Buhk. All drivers will have vehicles with lots of experience in GT3 and Mercedes-AMG. It is important for us to receive direct Feedback from our customers, to the last finishing touches for the upcoming Tests, to address, to begin at the end of 2019 with the delivery of the new vehicle. In 2020, the 10th anniversary year of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, will be celebrating the new Mercedes-AMG GT3, then its worldwide debut season in the hands of the first customer teams.
Social Media News
#AMGGT3: The new Mercedes-AMG GT3 from every angle.
Watch the Video: www.facebook.com/MercedesAMGCustomerRacing/videos/388399075107230/
Mercedes-AMG GT3 #88, AKKA ASP Team
#88 of the Mercedes-AMG GT3, AKKA ASP Team
