Mercedes-AMG to field a trio of cars at the Suzuka 1000km

The 50th edition of the Suzuka 1000km, taking place from 11 to 13 September, marks the fourth of a total of five rounds in the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Following the IGTC rounds at Bathurst, the Nürburgring and Spa, the race at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan marks the penultimate round before the season concludes in Indianapolis. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport is fielding an experienced line-up: A total of three Mercedes-AMG GT3s will be fielded by two established teams in the Pro and Pro-Am classes. The aim is to secure further vital points for the IGTC drivers’ championship, in which Maro Engel, Luca Stolz and Maxime Martin currently occupy first to third place.

The Craft-Bamboo Racing and 75 Express teams will represent Mercedes-AMG Motorsport at the Suzuka 1000km. The #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a works-supported entry and will compete under the name Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing. The driver line-up consists of Maxime Martin, Kakunoshin Ohta and Luca Stolz. Following his victory at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring in May and second place at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa at the end of June, Stolz heads to Suzuka in second place in the drivers’ standings with 51 points. The Mercedes-AMG Performance driver has competed in every IGTC round at Suzuka to date. Team-mate Martin won this season’s Bathurst 12 Hour and, together with Stolz, the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. He lies in third place, just one point behind Stolz. The driver trio of Martin, Ohta and Stolz will compete in the Pro class.

Team 75 Express is fielding another Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Pro class. Team owner Kenny Habul will be supported by the two Mercedes-AMG Performance drivers Philip Ellis and Mikaël Grenier. With Mikaël Grenier and Kenny Habul, the line-up for the #75 Mercedes-AMG GT3 includes two drivers who have also competed in every IGTC round at Suzuka since 2018.

Craft-Bamboo Racing is also fielding a second Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Pro-Am class. The driver line-up consists of João Paulo de Oliveira, Kevin Tse and Daisuke Yamawaki. In the Pro-Am classification, Craft-Bamboo Racing secured a class victory in 2025 – the line-up included Kevin Tse, amongst others.

Maro Engel currently leads the drivers’ championship with 68 points. The Mercedes-AMG Performance driver has won both the Bathurst 12 Hour and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring this season and finished second in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Due to a clash of dates between the remaining two IGTC rounds – the Suzuka 1000km and the Indianapolis 8 Hour in October – and the DTM, Engel will no longer be able to compete in the championship. Luca Stolz and Maxime Martin will therefore travel to Suzuka as promising title contenders. In the manufacturers’ championship, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport currently lies in second place with 84 points, just eight points behind the leaders.

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“Despite the clash with the DTM and the Nürburgring Endurance Series, we have been able to put together an experienced line-up for the Suzuka 1000km with Craft-Bamboo Racing and 75 Express. We are in a strong position in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships and want to make the most of the weekend to put ourselves in the best possible position for the season finale with Luca and Maxime. “The Suzuka Circuit suits the Mercedes-AMG GT3 well. The car can really play to its strengths, particularly in the first two sectors, which feature many medium-speed corners,” said Stefan Wendl, Head of Customer Motorsport at Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.