- Internationally successful business group to feature on all HRT Mercedes-AMG race cars as mobility partner again in 2023
- Mercedes-AMG GT3 in full Merbag livery at three races in the Nürburgring Endurance Series
Merbag and Haupt Racing Team are extending the partnership launched last year and expanding it for the 2023 season. The cooperation between the leading European Mercedes-Benz dealer and the successful German racing team is extensive, ranging from the advertising presence on all Mercedes-AMG race cars run by HRT, to diverse modules including corporate events.
A new core element is the integration of Merbag in the showroom concept of the HRT Race Base at the Nürburgring: Merbag will present itself as an expert service partner and introduce products at the team’s brand-new operations centre. As well as cooperating on the guest programme at race outings throughout Europe, Merbag and HRT are also working together in different areas – for example, the implementation of driving training courses, employee experiences, exclusive VIP events, product presentations and other individual, motorsport-related events.
As official mobility partner of HRT, Merbag supplies the team with Mercedes-Benz vehicles required to manage the busy race and event calendar – from cars and vans to race trucks. As well as providing and servicing the fleet, Merbag also supports the team with short-term mobility solutions.
The successful partnership also extends beyond purely mobility topics. For example, the logo will now be present in more racing series. The Merbag word mark will feature even more concisely and distinctively on the C-pillar of the HRT race cars. As a highlight of the partnership, one Mercedes-AMG GT3 will line up in the full green, white and black livery of Merbag at three races in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). HRT’s “Merbag GT3” will be on show at the season-opener on 18 March and the subsequent race on 1 April on the Nordschleife. More prominent logo positionings are also planned.
Thomas Kast, CEO Autohandel Merbag-Gruppe:
"We are delighted to continue and expand the partnership with HRT in 2023. As the leading Mercedes-Benz dealer in Europe, we and Haupt Racing Team share both the passion for performance and the professional aspiration to successfully develop as a company on the international market. Our partnership is a win for both sides."
Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer of Haupt Racing Team GmbH:
"Our involvement in a multitude of international GT series brings with it a packed calendar. This makes optimal support with mobility issues absolutely essential. In Merbag, we have found a reliable partner, which offers us ideal support with its extensive range of vehicles. We are delighted to continue to work together on fascinating projects."
About Merbag
Merbag stands for "Mercedes-Benz Automobil AG" and is the umbrella brand of Swiss company Merbag Holding AG, whose roots in Zürich stretch back as far as 1912. Nowadays, the group is active throughout Europe with 21 independent companies in the automotive and real estate industry. The core business is the automobile trade. As an authorised distribution and service partner for the brands Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-EQ, smart and Fuso, the company specialises in the sale and aftersales care of new and used cars. In Europe, Merbag is one of the leading Mercedes-Benz representatives, with 27 sites in Switzerland, five in Italy, five in Luxembourg, six in Austria, and seven in Germany. Roughly 3,000 dedicated employees use their expertise and experience to ensure customers are always satisfied.
About HRT
HRT stands for HAUPT RACING TEAM. The motorsport team was founded in July 2020 by racing driver and entrepreneur Hubert Haupt and has firmly established itself in international GT3 sport within a very short time. As well as numerous race wins and top results, HRT’s greatest success came in 2021 when it won the Drivers’ Championship in the DTM. The team’s programme is demanding and diverse: among other things, HRT starts in the DTM, the Nürburgring Endurance Series, the GT World Challenge Europe, and the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. Many of these race outings are as a Mercedes-AMG Performance Team with extended factory support. HRT is also involved in professional sim racing and is a sought-after partner for technical development projects and motorsport events of all kinds. As of the 2023 season, the team’s new operations centre is the HRT Race Base in Drees, which is located at the Nürburgring. The headquarters of Haupt Racing Team GmbH are in Grünwald near Munich.
