Imagery of the #77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo car
Mercedes-AMG has revealed its full line-up of drivers for the 2023 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.
The top four Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the Pro class of the Mountain Panorama GT3 enduro next month, with Triple Eight Race Engineering and SunEnergy1, revealed their driving crews.
Now, the German marque has announced that the GruppeM #999 car will be driven by Raffaele Marciello, Mikael Grenier and Maro Engel.
He drove here last year for the Craft-Bamboo squad, which will feature the talents of Luca Auer, Nicky Catsburg, and 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge drivers’ champion Daniel Juncadella in Car #77.
As previously reported, the Supercheap Auto-backed Triple Eight entry in the Pro class included Shane van Gisbergen, Broc Feeney, and Maximilian Gotz.
SunEnergy1 owner Kenny Habul will once again partner with the two drivers with whom he won the Bathurst 12 Hour last year, namely Jules Gounon and Luca Stolz.
Drivers for the other four Pro class races, namely the two Team WRT BMWs, the Melbourne Performance Center Audi, and the Manthey EMA race, have also now been confirmed.
Among the Pro-Am Mercedes-AMG contingent is the high-profile Triple Octo Boost Mobile entry of Jamie Whincup/Richie Stanaway/Jefri Ibrahim.
Scott Taylor Motorsport, Valmont Racing and Volante Rosso Motorsport (two cars) are also running Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the race, while Mark Griffith of the Team Nineteen outfit is fielding one of the three-point star GT4s.
Image #999, Mercedes-AMG Team Gruppe car
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, said, “The Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours is one of the strongest races of the year and is very important to Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.
“This is reflected in the competitive form of our teams and in the record number of entries for both factory-supported and paid-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams.
“On top of that, I’m proud to have been asked once again to provide the Safety Car for this year’s race. After all, safety is always a priority for Mercedes and AMG, and this also goes for motorsports.
“Having won the Bathurst 12 hour in 2022, we are excited about the return of the Pro category this year and look forward to the challenge of defending this title in what will undoubtedly be a tough race against a top-class grid race.
“The Mount Panorama circuit is certainly one of the largest race tracks in the world, and I am personally immersed in this unique race.”
2023 Bathurst takes place at 12 o’clock from 3-5 February.