HRT WITH FIRST RACE ENTRY OF THE MERCEDES-AMG GT2

PRESS INFORMATION | 18 April, 2023 | Drees

The Haupt Racing Team will enter the new Mercedes-AMG GT2 in racing conditions for the first time this coming weekend. At the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers as well as at the season start of the Fanatec GT2 European Series in Monza HRT will enter one of the new Mercedes-AMG cars. A start at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring is also on the agenda.

  • HRT enters the Mercedes-AMG GT2 in racing conditions for the first time.
  • Double start with the new racing car at the Nürburgring and in Monza.
  • Start of the Mercedes-AMG GT2 at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race Nürburgring.

After an intensive development phase and many test kilometres, the Mercedes-AMG GT2 will celebrate its debut at two race tracks this coming weekend. The Haupt Racing Team will bring the new racing car, which boasts an output of up to 707 hp (520KW), to the grid at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers at the Nürburgring and in the Fanatec GT2 European Series in Monza.

As part of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, the #46 Mercedes-AMG GT2 will contest the two qualifying races, each lasting two and four hours, in the SPX class under the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT entry. Frank Bird (GBR), Elia Erhart, Jörg Viebahn (both GER) and Mercedes-AMG test and development driver Thomas Jäger (GER) will share the wheel for the Mercedes-AMG GT2's first official appearance on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. After the qualifying races, preparations for the Mercedes-AMG GT2's next endurance test begin. From 18 to 21 May, the GT2 will also compete in the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Race at the Nürburgring, where the team will go on the chase twice around the clock in the "Green Hell" in an unchanged formation.

At the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the Fanatec GT2 European Series will launch its new season as a support race to the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. The Haupt Racing Team will be entering the first customer-delivered Mercedes-AMG GT2 with starting number #44. Thomas Jackermeier and Jens Liebhauser (both GER) will drive this car under the Fanatec by HRT entry. On the tradition-steeped Grand Prix circuit in Italy, the Fanatec GT2 European Series will hold two races over a distance of 50 minutes each. At these races, the Mercedes-AMG GT2 can measure itself against its direct competitors for the first time on the high-speed circuit in Monza.

Frank Bird, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “I am super excited for this brand-new project in the GT2 machine, no expectations set but it has huge potential so just to gain valuable mileage and data for the car. Looking forward to see what it’s like round the Nordschleife. Thanks to AMG and HRT for the opportunity.”

Elia Erhart, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: "I'm very excited to see what the car can achieve on the Nordschleife and I'm really looking forward to racing with HRT and the great driver line-up. I'm very proud to be involved with such an experienced team."

Thomas Jackermeier, #44 Fanatec by HRT: "I'm looking forward to taking part in the Fanatec GT2 Series in the Mercedes-AMG GT2. So far, I have only been able to gain experience with a GT in the simulator and the first races will certainly be a big challenge. Another challenge - for me personally but also for HRT - is the brand-new Mercedes-AMG GT2, which we are allowed to bring to the grid for the first time and exclusively in Monza."

Thomas Jäger, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: "After an intensive development phase, this culminates, as with every one of our homologated racing cars, in test runs on the Nordschleife. The car is easy to drive and is also a lot of fun with all the power. I'm looking forward to the Nordschleife with HRT!”

Jens Liebhauser, #44 Fanatec by HRT: "With the Haupt Racing Team we have a fantastic team at our side. Over the past few years, I've been able to gain a lot of experience in GT racing, which I can use not only on the track in GT2, but also to support my team-mate Thomas Jackermeier. I think that we first have to get into the swing of things as a team. Nevertheless, we are ambitious and want to be in the mix for the points. We are excited to see what the first race and the season will bring."

Jörg Viebahn, #46 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “To have the chance to drive the Mercedes-AMG GT2 on the Nordschleife with Thomas, Elia and Frank is of course an absolute dream. Our goal is to round off the development and demonstrate the skills of this spectacular car at the world's most demanding race in the "Green Hell". I think the GT2 has enormous potential to be right behind the GT3s on the grid, or maybe even a little further ahead.”

Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer Haupt Racing Team: "We are delighted with the trust placed in us by Mercedes-AMG to validate the final development of the new Mercedes-AMG GT2 together with the Haupt Racing Team at these important races on the world's most demanding racetrack at the Nürburgring. The whole team is highly motivated and looking forward to working with the drivers and the Mercedes-AMG development team at the two upcoming races. In parallel to the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers at the Nürburgring, we are also fielding a brand-new Mercedes-AMG GT2 in the Fanatec GT2 European Series. It's great to see that both manufacturers and customers have entrusted us with this product from the very beginning. So, in addition to the GT3, GT4 and Track Series programmes, with the GT2 we have the complete customer sports portfolio from Mercedes-AMG in action at HRT."

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.

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