• Mercedes-AMG Teams complete their setup work in the qualifying sessions
• Large crowd at the Mercedes-AMG autograph session
• Mercedes-AMG drivers for the Top Qualifying sessions on Friday evening have been confirmed

The 52nd edition of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring got off to a promising start for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing. For the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing cars and their drivers, the six and a half hours of practice time during the three qualifying sessions on Thursday and Friday focussed on the setup work. For the six Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the SP9 class, the showdown for the grid positions for the race is on the agenda in the two Top Qualifying sessions on Friday night. The legendary endurance race in the Eifel starts on Saturday at 16:00 CEST.

Beginning with lots of action and typical Eifel weather 
The majority of the Mercedes-AMG Teams used Qualifying 1, which was characterised by changeable weather with periods of heavy rainfall, to prepare for the challenging conditions. The main focus was on the setup work with heavy fuel loads, as the decisive Top Qualifying sessions also have to be driven on a full tank of fuel.

From 20:00 CEST, teams and drivers gathered further data and experience at night during Qualifying 2. The #11 finished the day in third place overall and maintained its lead in the SP9 PRO-AM class. The #4 Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN at the time was another Mercedes-AMG GT3 to finish the day inside the Top 10. 

Unfortunately, the Haupt Racing Team had to put in a night shift at its race base in Drees at short notice. The #6 car of the ADVAN x HRT team came off the track in the Breidscheid section during Qualifying 2. The car was damaged on the right-hand side but returned to action for Qualifying 3.  

In the SP 10 class, things did not go according to plan for the only Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the field either. In the first qualifying session, the #111 of Schnitzelalm Racing finished fifth in the classification. In the evening session, David Thilenius (USA) had an accident after contact with another car in the Fuchsröhre section of the track. After a routine check-up at the medical centre, the American was cleared to continue participating in the event. The car was taken to the workshop of Schnitzelalm Racing in Niederzissen for repairs. It will be ready for the start of the race tomorrow.

Dress rehearsal for the showdown on Friday evening
Friday began with a special highlight for Mercedes-AMG fans. In the run-up to the third qualifying session, the 25 drivers came together for a well-attended autograph session in the Mercedes-AMG Fan Base in the paddock. One hour later, the schedule at the Nürburgring included another 75 minutes of dress rehearsal in dry weather conditions in preparation for the Top Qualifying sessions. Fabian Schiller set the fastest lap of all Mercedes-AMG Teams with the anniversary car number #130 towards the end of qualifying. With a lap time of 8m 16.982s, he finished the session in fourth place overall.

The starting grid for the 24-hour race will be decided in the two Top Qualifying sessions from 17:30 CEST today. The order of the participants will be determined in advance by draw. A total of 15 cars will line up in Top Qualifying 1, of which the fastest five will go through to Top Qualifying 2. Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing lines up four cars in the first part of Top Qualifying. Twelve entries have already pre-qualified for Top Qualifying 2, including two Mercedes-AMG GT3s.

„The weather here is pretty mixed, but the preparation is going well and all the drivers feel comfortable in the car. It's important that everything works today in Top Qualifying and of course in the race. So far I've only driven in the dry. In fact, I have no experience at all on the Nordschleife in the rain. Let's see whether I’ll be going head-to-head with my brother in the race, who will be in the sister car. If it comes to that, you obviously want to beat everyone, including your own brother. Nevertheless, we won't take too many risks.”
Jusuf Owega, Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN #3

„The atmosphere is once again unique. The fans come up with something new every year. I only did three laps yesterday, but it was important for me to settle into my rhythm at the track. The conditions were difficult. When it rains at night on the Nordschleife, it becomes critical. But that's exactly what makes it so exciting. It was great fun to drive the glowing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the dark. It looks great, but doesn't distract the driver.”
Maximilian Götz, Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN #4

„The anticipation for the 24-hour race is huge. We have already prepared well, but we have challenging weather conditions this weekend. In general, I'm really enjoying every single lap. We have a great car, a great team - I'm ready to go. The Nordschleife has its own rules, especially when it comes to the weather and traffic. That's why I have a healthy respect for the race.”
Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #8

„It's great to be back on the Nordschleife, especially driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the special livery for 130 Years of Motorsport.  We started our final preparations for the 24-hour race yesterday. The weather was very unstable, typical of the Nürburgring. The new Michelin tyres are a big change for us, so the setup work is very challenging. We've tried out a few things and are now getting along quite well. Hopefully we can make another step towards the race. I really want to win this race. Maro and Adam have already done it, Fabi and I are still waiting for this success. Only five French drivers have won here so far. I would like to be sixth.”
Jules Gounon, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #130

„Unfortunately, the day didn't go so well yesterday. I pushed too hard and lost the car on a wet patch. I'm glad it happened on Thursday and not in the race. The right-hand side was severly damaged and I caused the crew a lot of work, which I'm really sorry about. The team worked through the night to rebuild the car. I'm very grateful that we can be back on track today. I'm really looking forward to the race. My brother is in the team's other Mercedes-AMG GT3. We are rivals on the track, but away from it we help each other to get better.”
Salman Owega, Team ADVAN x HRT #6

„There was a bit of luck involved in the first qualifying session. We got a very clear lap at a time when it was completely dry. In the second practice session, we also completed our programme without any pressure and it went very well overall. Being the Mercedes-AMG driver with the most starts here never ceases to amaze me. I didn't realise it myself for a long time until Thomas Jäger told me. That's something very special, because the manufacturer has had an impact on me since I was a child. I can still remember running through the halls at AMG when I was a school kid. Today, I also drive for the brand that I have always been a fan of.”
Kenneth Heyer, Schnitzelalm Racing #11

„Yesterday was like so often in motorsport: highs and lows on the same day. We are super happy with our Mercedes-AMG GT3. We're just annoyed that we went out on wet tyres at the beginning, because that and the Code 60 phases meant we only had one lap. Our Mercedes-AMG GT4 was damaged after a communication issue with another driver. David Thilenius has been driving for us for four years and has never caused a scratch. He had a disagreement with another driver in the Fuchsröhre section and crashed at 220 kilometres per hour. The driver is fine, but the car has to be rebuilt entirely, which is why he didn't drive today. We've been working with our people and the support of AMG since last night to get it ready for the race.”
Thomas Angerer, Teamchef Schnitzelalm Racing