Although it hasn’t signed a like-for-like replacement for its previous star Raffaele Marciello, who has switched to rival brand BMW, multiple new names will campaign the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in factory capacity across a wide variety of championships this year.
Supercars star David Reynolds is the most notable name to step up to the factory roster, having made several appearances in Bathurst 12 Hour and GT World Challenge Australia at the wheel of the AMG GT3 over the last few years.
Former Brazilian Stock Car champion Felipe Fraga is another driver to have been awarded factory status by Mercedes based on his results with the marque.
Although best known for his race-winning campaigns in the World Endurance Championship and DTM with Aston Martin and Ferrari respectively, Fraga has racked up over 30 endurance outings in Mercedes machinery since 2018.
A complete newcomer to Mercedes’ line-up is Frank Bird, who impressed the German manufacturer during the AMG Young Driver test at Valencia last November and again in the Gulf 12 Hours in December.
Most of Mercedes’ top-line drivers will stay in the programme for another season, with the exception of Marciello.
The list includes Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, Maro Engel, Maximilian Gotz and Jules Gounon, all of whom are designated as ‘Performance Drivers’ along with Adam Christodoulou, Philip Ellis, Mikael Grenier, Arjun Maini and Fabian Schiller.
Even Daniel Juncadella will remain in the Mercedes fold despite signing a deal with Corvette to represent the General Motors brand in WEC and the enduro rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. However, the Spaniard will have a reduced role at the German brand and is now classified as an ‘Expert Driver’.
Source: Autosport