GruppeM Triumphs at Gulf 12 Hours

In an electrifying conclusion to the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli, GruppeM Racing's victory at the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours has secured the championship titles for Mercedes-AMG and driver Jules Gounon.

The #99 Mercedes-AMG, driven by Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, and Mikael Grenier, embarked on an unorthodox but successful route to victory from pole position. They managed to outpace Valentino Rossi, Dries Vanthoor, and Nick Yelloly of Team WRT BMW, who finished a mere 13 seconds behind.

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Gounon, in partnership with his 2 Seas co-drivers Fabian Schiller and Maximilian Goetz, achieved a commendable third-place finish. This was instrumental in overturning Mercedes-AMG's nine-point deficit at the start into a five-point lead over BMW in the manufacturers’ standings.

The event was not without its share of challenges. WRT’s second M4 grappled with an exhaust issue, hindering Sheldon van der Linde, Charles Weerts, and Philipp Eng, Gounon's main title adversary.

Sky Tempesta's Jonathan Hui triumphed in the Independent Cup title, finishing second in his class. Despite a strong performance and a third consecutive win by Antares Au of Herberth Motorsport, Hui preserved his lead.

Kenny Habul’s SunEnergy1 Mercedes-AMG faced late issues, dropping to third place in what was otherwise a strong showing.

Unconventional Strategies and Split Decisions

The Gulf 12 Hours is known for its unique pitstop regulations, which played a pivotal role this year. Despite starting from pole, GruppeM's early pit strategy, alongside their competitors, shaped the race's dynamics.

"The race was unpredictable today. With two cars on the front row, we had a promising start. Our split strategies for Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM involved a significant risk, while Mercedes-AMG Team 2 Seas covered the strategy of the opposition. Eventually, we regained the lead," explained Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing.

Two Full Course Yellow periods, triggered by crashes involving Shaun Balfe and Stephen Grove, led to a reshuffling of positions, with Am and Pro-Am cars leading temporarily.

Herberth's Am crewed Porsche remarkably led the overall and IGTC classifications at one stage. However, Goetz's assertive driving and strategic manoeuvres by GruppeM restored a familiar order.

GruppeM's victory path was aided when 2 Seas changed brakes during a Full Course Yellow, allowing WRT and GruppeM to advance. Rossi’s efforts briefly reignited BMW's hopes, but a mechanical issue involving a jammed pedal box proved costly.

Engel secured victory for GruppeM, marking their first IGTC win since Suzuka 2018. Gounon celebrated his championship with victory donuts, symbolizing the triumph of his and Mercedes-AMG's efforts.

"Congratulations to GruppeM for their fantastic victory and to 2 Seas for securing the championship for Jules in their first outing as a Performance Team. The fourth place for our junior car, with Frank, Lorenzo, and Lucas, is also noteworthy. Overall, it was an outstanding result for Mercedes-AMG," Wendl added.

Anticipation for the Next Season

As the 2023 season concludes, the motorsport world looks forward to the ninth season of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, commencing with the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour scheduled for 16-18 February 2024. The anticipation for another year of high-octane GT racing is palpable, with teams and drivers eager for new challenges and memorable moments.

Full Race Results Here

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