Local Mercedes-AMG customer racing revamp

The most successful Supercars racing team of the past 15 years is forging a new link to Mercedes-AMG for GT racing Down Under.

Triple Eight Race Engineering, which currently fields the Holden Commodores for the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team, has been appointed the local agent for Mercedes-AMG GT3 and GT4 race cars.

It is currently the official homologation team for GM Speciality Vehicles, finalising the design and development of the Chevrolet Camaro that will race from 2023 under new Gen3 rules in the Repco Supercars Championship, and has previously been a factory-backed touring car team for both Holden and Ford.

The new move is intended to boost the support and uptake of Mercedes-AMG race cars in Australia and New Zealand, as T8 works in conjunction with HWA AG, the satellite spin-off from AMG that was created by Hans-Werner Aufrecht at Affalterbach in Germany for motorsport work.

It also comes as the Mercedes-AMG GT heads into a second generation next year, switching to the MSA platform shared with the new SL roadster and catering for hard-core track enthusiasts.

T8 has already forged close ties to Mercedes-AMG, racing in the Bathurst 12-Hour sports car classic, as well as GT races in Australia and the Asian region.

Most recently, it has fielded a GT3 car for Malaysia’s Prince Jefri Ibrahim, and a line-up of T8 drivers led by Supercars stand-out Shane van Gisbergen that grew last week to include long-time Benz affiliate Peter Hackett.

It plans to cut supply times and boost services, including engineering and repairs, for the German GT cars.

A dedicated workshop and stores area has been created at T8’s race base in the Brisbane suburb of Banyo and a long-standing HWA expert, Andrew Barrett, will continue as support engineer under the new deal.

“We take very seriously the task of the expanded affiliation with the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing brand, with the provision of both factory parts and service for GT3 and GT4 cars in Australia and New Zealand,” said T8 supremo Roland Dane.

“Having been part of both the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing and Performance Racing program over the last few years, everyone at Triple Eight is very excited and honoured.”

T8 will continue to compete as a Customer Team for HWA, and/or a Performance Team of Mercedes-AMG in major events including the 12-Hour, and will be authorised to provide test drives for GT3 and GT4 customers and motorsport experiences in conjunction with the AMG Driving Academy.

The new business relationship is welcomed by Mercedes-Benz Australia and also Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing in Germany.

“We have found the perfect partner for the implementation of this task,” said Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing.

“The company is working in a highly professional way and also has the engineering expertise to carry out repair and rebuild work, next to spare part supply and sales logistics, in accordance with our high quality standards.

“The new motorsport hub pools all Customer Racing competences for the region at the same level as in Affalterbach.”