• Four Performance cars by Mercedes-AMG on the grid at Macau 
• Strong driver line-up with Engel, Marciello, Mortara and Picariello

One of the most spectacular motorsport events of the year is getting closer and Mercedes-AMG is prepared for it in an excellent way. The FIA GT World Cup in Macau from 14-17 November will see Maro Engel (GER), Raffaele Marciello (ITA), Edoardo Mortara (SUI) and Alessio Picariello (BEL) as the drivers of four strong Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries with extended works support. Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing will be running two of the cars while Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing is running the other two cars. The strong line-up is to continue the meanwhile five-year long streak of success that includes three victories and a total of eight podium results at the Macau Grand Prix.

For the drivers, this race is a very special highlight and for the manufacturers, a prestigious victory is on the line. After all, the FIA GT World Cup at the legendary street circuit of Macau is another thrilling showdown at the end of the motorsport year, in which the world’s best GT drivers are up against each other. For Mercedes-AMG, the most recent participations at the 6.1 kilometres long track were always crowned by success. Back in 2014, when the Macau Grand Prix didn’t have the FIA GT World Cup status yet, victory already went to an SLS AMG GT3. Since, there hasn’t been a podium without cars from Affalterbach. In 2015, for the inaugural FIA GT World Cup, and in 2017, the performance and sports car brand was victorious again. This streak of success is to continue in 2019.

Edoardo Mortara is driving one of the Craft-Bamboo Mercedes-AMG GT3s. The Guia Circuit particularly suits him. The 32-year-old has already won the Macau Grand Prix six times, four of them in the GT category. With Maro Engel, there is another Macau winner behind the wheel for the Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing. The 34-year-old won in 2014 and 2015 while he came second ahead of Mortara in 2018. Raffaele Marciello will be driving the GruppeM sister car. He has proven his abilities as a GT driver not in the least by winning the 2018 Blancpain GT Series drivers’ title. The second driver of the Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing is Alessio Picariello, who has scored two wins each in the Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia and the China GT Championship with the team this season.

Next to the four Performance cars, there will be another two Mercedes-AMG GT3s on the grid for the FIA GT World Cup, run by Customer Racing Teams Solite Indigo Racing with the Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia drivers’ champion, Roelof Bruins (NED) and Zun Motorsport Crew with Adderly Fong (HKG).

Once again, the opposition for Mercedes-AMG in the battle for the FIA GT World Cup drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles will be strong: the field has increased further compared to the previous year with more than 20 of the world’s best GT drivers competing in the streets of Macau as a result. The format with a qualifying race over 12 laps on Saturday (16 November) and a feature race over 18 laps on Sunday (17 November) remains unchanged.

Next to the performance, Mercedes-AMG also has an optical highlight in store. Photo artist Michael von Hassel is to convert two of the Performance cars into ‘Art Cars’. To do so, he is projecting elements from already existing photo artwork of the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the Mercedes-AMG GT R*[1] onto the carbon fibre bodyworks, turning them into an object of art. The colours of the ‘Art Cars’ are inspired by the basic colours ‘sunsetbeam’ and ‘AMG Green Hell Magno’ of the two AMG cars that served as an inspiration for the artist.

Michael von Hassel: “The design of the Art Cars reflects the unbelievable power and dynamics of the car. It encapsulates the full energy that unloads like in lightning and transfers to the track.” Since the 2018 Nürburgring 24-hour race, Mercedes-AMG has already been working with the Munich-based artist, who manages to stage the Mercedes-AMG performance and sports cars in an own hyper-realistic visual language in a very strong way.

Next to the GT3 machinery from Affalterbach, fans at the Guia Circuit can also look forward to a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT4s. These will be run by Customer Racing Team TRC and will be competing in the Greater Bay Area GT Cup on the support programme of the Macau Grand Prix.

Edoardo Mortara, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing: “I am delighted to being allowed to race for Craft-Bamboo Racing at Macau this year. Team principal Darryl O’Young is a good friend of mine. Following my six wins at Macau, it would be unbelievably nice to be able to celebrate another win together with him there. However, it will be a real challenge, as I haven’t been racing the Mercedes-AMG GT3 often since last year’s race at Macau. And the opposition will be strong. I am expecting a really tough race.”

Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing: “The FIA GT World Cup in Macau is an undisputed season highlight. A race at one of the most unbelievable circuits out there. I am massively looking forward to it. Once again, it will be an incredibly hard-fought race. After all, it is about the GT world championship title, so to say. For me, the goal is clear: I want my third win at Macau.”

Raffaele Marciello, Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing: “My anticipation for the FIA GT World Cup is huge. Together with the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and Bathurst, Macau is one of the world’s best race tracks for me. The past two years have shown the potential we have. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to bring it home yet. Therefore, I am all the more motivated this year. As usual, the level will be extremely high, but I will try everything to win the World Cup trophy.”

Alessio Picariello, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing: “Racing at Macau one day has been a dream of mine ever since I have been in racing. Thanks to Mercedes-AMG, Craft-Bamboo Racing and the sponsors for making this dream come true for me. I am already very curious to find out what is in store for me. With Craft-Bamboo Racing, we will be preparing in the best possible way. For me, in my rookie year, it is particularly about learning a lot. With Mr. Macau Edoardo Mortara as my teammate, I am in the perfect position to do so.”

*[1] Fuel consumption combined: 12.4 l/100km | CO2 emissions combined: 284 g/km | http://amg4.me/Efficiency-Statement | Mercedes-AMG GT R]

* subject to last-minute changes