Bathurst 12 Hour: Mercedes-AMG wins opening race of the 2026 IGTC

• Mercedes-AMG Motorsport has made a successful start to the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). In the 23rd edition of the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour, the #888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR secured overall victory in a thrilling final phase.
• Mercedes-AMG Team GMR wins from 29th on the grid and makes history: never before has the endurance classic been won from such a starting position.
• For Maro Engel (GER), Mikaël Grenier (CAN) and Maxime Martin (BEL), it is their first victory at the Mount Panorama Circuit, for Mercedes-AMG, this is its fourth victory in the endurance classic after 2013, 2022 and 2023.
• For Maxime Martin, this is his first victory as a Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Mercedes-AMG Performance driver - he has been driving for the brand since 2025.
• In the Pro Am class, the #45 Mercedes-AMG from the RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia Customer Racing Team claimed victory. Brett Hobson (AUS), Dylan O'Keeffe (AUS) and Garth Walden (AUS) took the lead in the Pro Am field early on and secured a commanding class victory after 262 laps.
• 03:40 hours before the end of the race, the leader Ralf Aron (EST) in the #77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing car collided heavily with another vehicle that was standing behind a blind right-hand bend in the 'Forrest's Elbow' section of the track. The Estonian driver was able to leave his car unaided and was taken to hospital for a thorough medical examination. The race was interrupted for just under an hour with a red flag.
• Shortly after the start of the final hour of the race, there was contact between the #6 Mercedes-AMG Team Tigani Motorsport car and the #222 Customer Racing Team Scott Taylor Motorsport car. Neither car was able to finish the race.
• The Mercedes-AMG GT3 #75 with Jules Gounon (AND), Kenny Habul (AUS) and Luca Stolz (GER) fought for overall victory for much of the race. At the finish, the trio took 7th place for the Customer Racing Team 75 Express. Habul also finished second in the Independent Cup classification for FIA Bronze drivers.
• Qualifying took place on Saturday: Scott Taylor Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing and 75 Express secured starting positions 1, 2 and 3.
• Cameron Waters (AUS) in the #222 from Scott Taylor Motorsport set the fastest time in the Pirelli Pole Battle, also winning the Simonsen Pole Trophy. He completed the 6.213 km circuit in 2:01.5631 minutes. This is the second fastest pole lap in the history of the race.
• With six pole positions to its name, Mercedes-AMG now holds the record at the Bathurst 12 Hour. For the third time, Mercedes-AMG occupied the front row of the grid - also a new record.

>> Race Result IGTC, Bathurst 12 Hour

"We had a strong entry in the Bathurst 12 Hours with ten Mercedes-AMG GT3s. Our starting position in this extremely competitive field was very good. It was a real elimination race in which we had a perfectly tuned car over the entire distance. All our customer teams did a great job. In the end, Mercedes-AMG Team GMR took the lead with a fuel top-off during an early safety car phase and a flawless performance, and defended it confidently. Congratulations to Kenny Chen and the entire team, who deserved this success and finally had the necessary racing luck on their side at Mount Panorama Circuit. It was a good start to the 2026 IGTC season. Of course, we are all concerned about Ralf Aron's accident. He is currently receiving medical treatment. We wish him a speedy and full recovery."
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing

"I've been waiting a really long time for this victory. We had that little bit of luck on our side at the decisive moments. Now, on my tenth attempt, it's finally worked out for me, and it feels great! I can only say a huge thank you to my teammates. Mik and Maxime did a fantastic job, the Mercedes-AMG Team GMR gave it their all and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 also performed superbly. I'm proud of what we've achieved here."
Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GMR #888

"A great result for us, especially considering we started from 29th on the grid. But we worked well, had a great strategy and were able to save a lot of fuel throughout the race. Everyone involved did a great job. Perfect pit stops, no mistakes, the car crossed the finish line without a scratch - I'm really very proud."
Mikaël Grenier, Mercedes-AMG Team GMR #888

"It was a tough race with a lot of strategy, numerous safety car phases and close battles. But at the end of the day, we're in first place. It's an incredible feeling. It's the first time we've won here with the team at Bathurst, and it's my first victory for Mercedes-AMG. I don't think there's any better place for it than Bathurst."
Maxime Martin, Mercedes-AMG Team GMR #888

"In the end, it was a strong race for us. We were at the front the whole time and fought for the win. The team pursued an excellent strategy. Then we had bad luck with another car that came back onto the track in front of us. We decided to take a full risk and attack. Unfortunately, that didn't work out. It's a shame because we were very fast with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and we had what it takes to win."
Luca Stolz, 75 Express #75

"Up until the accident, we were doing well in the race, sticking to our plan and implementing a strong strategy - we were in the lead. Then there was an accident between The Dipper and Forrest's Elbow. At this point, you're practically blind and driving at very high speed. Ralf obviously didn't hear us, and there were no yellow flags to be seen in that area. He hit the rear of the vehicle that had already crashed there at high speed. We can really count ourselves lucky that he was able to free himself from the car. At a moment like that, the race itself fades completely into the background. The only thing that matters now is that Ralf is doing well under the circumstances."
Maximilian Götz, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo Racing #77

"That was a very demanding race. We sustained minor damage to the car at the start and then had to carry out repairs at every pit stop. We fought all day to get back into the leading lap and finally managed it. The fact that we ended up colliding with the #222 is extremely unfortunate, and it is very regrettable that we took another Mercedes-AMG GT3 out of the fight for the race win as a result."
Jayden Ojeda, Mercedes-AMG Team Tigani Motorsport #6

"We did really well. We were probably one of the few cars in the field that didn't have a gold or platinum driver in the cockpit. For us, the main thing was to stay as consistent as possible throughout the day. We succeeded in doing that! Winning the Pro Am category is a great result."
Brett Hobson, RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia #45