2025 24 Hours of Le Mans – LMGT3 Class

German Power and International Grit

Introduction

The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans arrives as the centrepiece of a truly punishing endurance calendar for many teams, none more so than Mercedes-AMG, who face a historic triple-header: Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Spa in three successive weekends. For German manufacturers, the LMGT3 class showcases stamina, strategy, and a little magic.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), calls this the “greatest gathering of carmakers on earth.” Nine manufacturers, a 24-car LMGT3 grid, and the promise of a golden age for global GT racing. The big question: who will conquer not just Le Mans, but the month?

German Manufacturers: The Main Contenders

Mercedes-AMG – The Silver Arrows Return

Never before has Mercedes-AMG faced three 24-hour races on three consecutive weekends. Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz will race at Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Spa, shouldering the full burden of AMG’s marathon. Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, reflects: “No, it's never happened before. It's the first time we've had this kind of challenge, and it's also unique. It's a very intensive phase and a real test of endurance for everyone involved.”

AMG’s approach is careful driver rotation, different cars for each event, and a relentless focus on recovery. “Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz are the only people from our motorsport family, who are actually contesting all three 24-hour races. Apart from that, we have made sure that the schedule for each participant includes a maximum of two of the three races in order to allow for targeted breaks,” says Wendl.

For the drivers, the challenge is not just physical. As Stolz puts it,
“Competing in three 24-hour races on three consecutive weekends is a new challenge for me. During the races themselves, there are almost no deep sleep phases. The body is always in stand-by mode, and the adrenaline level is constantly high. But a short power nap can work wonders.”

Martin, debuting with AMG, juggles ten race events over thirteen weekends. “It is probably the easiest mentally [at Le Mans],” he says. “The Nürburgring is the most mentally challenging because of the traffic, the weather and the characteristics of the track. Spa is the most physically demanding because of the intensity, the number of cars and the calibre of the field.”

For the first time in more than 25 years, Mercedes-AMG returns to the Circuit de la Sarthe, partnering with Iron Lynx and fielding three GT3 Evo cars, each in a livery inspired by the legendary Sauber-Mercedes C9. The challenge: Can a team originally not planning to race Le Mans now deliver under pressure?

#60 Iron Lynx: Matteo Cairoli, Matteo Cressoni, Claudio Schiavoni
Seasoned Le Mans runners, aiming to anchor the AMG effort.

#61 Iron Lynx: Martin Berry, Lin Hodenius, Maxime Martin
Berry and Hodenius make their debuts, Hodenius, just 18, is the youngest on the entire grid. Maxime Martin, a past GTE Pro winner, brings crucial experience.

#63 Iron Lynx: Brenton Grove, Stephen Grove, Luca Stolz
The Groves debut, Stolz (a previous GTE-Am podium finisher), faces the first leg of his triple-header.

The scale of the challenge is clear: “At Le Mans, we are the slowest car class in the field with the LMGT3. So I have to constantly look in the mirror because you are constantly being overtaken by faster prototypes,” says Stolz. “But one thing is clear: everyone in the team knows what it's all about – being at the top on Sunday afternoon!”

Porsche: Chasing a 20th Win, Defending LMGT3 Champions

No brand’s Le Mans record matches Porsche: 19 overall victories, 111 class wins, and a line-up blending ambition with charity, innovation, and a little Hollywood.

Four Porsche 963s attack Hypercar (three factory, one Proton Competition), but in LMGT3, Manthey fields three 911 GT3 R entries; each with a distinct narrative.

#85 Iron Dames: Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, Célia Martin
The only all-female entry on the grid, now with Bovy stepping in for the injured Michelle Gatting. A new “Powering your Dreams” livery celebrates the team’s progress.
Martin: “Starting my first 24 Hours of Le Mans is a dream come true – even more so with our special car design. I’m thrilled to be part of this great adventure with such experienced teammates.”

#90 Manthey (Chip Hart Racing): Antares Au, Klaus Bachler, Loek Hartog
Running under a fictional team banner, this car brings a touch of Hollywood glamour, having starred in the filming of the Brad Pitt “F1” movie. Bachler said, “We have a strong trio, and with Manthey and the Porsche 911 GT3 R, we’re definitely competitive. I hope we can fight for a class win.”

#92 Manthey 1st Phorm: Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz, Riccardo Pera
This is the car to beat, featuring defending class champions.
Lietz said, “Our class features 24 GT3 entries from top teams. It’ll be a fierce fight, with fine details deciding victory or defeat. We’re very well prepared, the car and team are excellent, and we’re fast.”

Porsche’s “Racing for Charity” returns: €500 will be donated for every lap completed by the three factory-entered 963s, with all funds supporting critical medical charities. Over the past two years, the campaign has raised €1.8 million.

BMW: Rossi Headlines the M4 Assault

BMW Team WRT brings two M4 GT3 Evo entries, fresh from a 1-2 at Imola in the WEC and a win at Paul Ricard in GT World Challenge Europe.

#31 The Bend Team WRT: Timur Boguslavskiy, Augusto Farfus, Yasser Shahin
Farfus anchors the team with endurance nous.

#46 Team WRT: Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harthy, Kelvin van der Linde
Rossi’s return is a fan magnet. His rapid adaptation last year, paired with Al Harthy’s consistency and van der Linde’s speed, makes this car a dark horse.

Audi – Not on the Grid

Audi is absent from the LMGT3 grid in 2025. Despite fielding R8 LMS Evo II cars elsewhere, the brand sits out Le Mans this year.

Key International Rivals

• Ferrari: Multiple 296 GT3s (Vista AF Corse, Kessel Racing, Richard Mille AF Corse), strong in both Qatar and Imola WEC rounds.
• Corvette: Three Z06 GT3.Rs (AWA Racing, TF Sport).
• Aston Martin: Two Vantage AMR GT3 Evos (Racing Spirit of Léman, Heart of Racing Team).
• McLaren: United Autosports’ 720S GT3 Evos.
• Ford: Proton Competition’s Mustang GT3s.
• Lexus: Akkodis ASP Team’s RC F GT3s.

Form, Strategy and What to Watch

Pro-Am rules in LMGT3 mean teams must blend speed and consistency. Every car has weak links and flashes of brilliance.

• Ferrari has been the early favourite, but Porsche and BMW are poised.
• Mercedes-AMG faces a steep learning curve but has left nothing to chance.
• Watch for the youngest driver, Lin Hodenius (#61 AMG), and for the Iron Dames’ all-female line-up.
• Manthey’s Hollywood car and Porsche’s charity initiative both bring added storylines.

Driver stints, night racing, traffic management, especially for LMGT3 cars dodging Hypercars, will likely decide the outcome. “At Le Mans, the slowest class must look in the mirror almost constantly,” says Stolz, highlighting just one of many unique challenges.

The German Challenge: Stakes and Perspective

Porsche’s pursuit of a 20th win, BMW’s resurgent GT3 form, and Mercedes-AMG’s “triple marathon” are more than statistics; they are live, human stories at the heart of the LMGT3 fight.
If German precision and teamwork prevail, it will be earned on merit and through navigating one of the most competitive fields ever seen in the class.

For fans of German motorsport, Le Mans offers the chance to see old rivalries renewed, fresh faces emerge, and perhaps, a new legend born in the LMGT3 class