IGTC: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport fields experienced lineup for Suzuka 1000km

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport will field three Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars at the 50th edition of the Suzuka 1000km, the fourth round of the 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). The race runs from September 11 to 13 at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, serving as the penultimate IGTC stop before the season finale in Indianapolis. Mercedes-AMG enters with a seasoned lineup aiming to bolster its position in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships. Luca Stolz (GER) and Maxime Martin (BEL) currently sit second and third in the drivers’ standings with 51 and 50 points respectively, trailing Maro Engel (GER), who leads with 68 points. Engel will miss the final two IGTC rounds due to scheduling conflicts with the DTM, making Stolz and Martin the top contenders in Suzuka. In the manufacturers’ standings, Mercedes-AMG trails the leader by eight points with 84 points. Two established teams will represent the brand: Craft-Bamboo Racing and 75 Express. Craft-Bamboo will field two cars—one in the Pro class with Martin, Kakunoshin Ohta (JPN), and Stolz, and another in Pro-Am with João Paulo de Oliveira (BRA), Kevin Tse (FIA), and Daisuke Yamawaki (JPN). 75 Express will enter a single Pro-class Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Philip Ellis (SUI), Mikaël Grenier (CAN), and team owner Kenny Habul (AUS). Both Grenier and Habul have competed in every IGTC Suzuka event since 2018. The Suzuka 1000km marks the fourth IGTC appearance for Mercedes-AMG since 2018, where the team has secured one overall win (2018), two podiums, and six class podiums. The circuit, 5.807 km long with 18 turns, has hosted the event since 1966, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Pre-qualifying is set for September 12 at 03:40–05:10 CEST, qualifying at 10:35–11:35 CEST, and the race starts at 05:50 CEST on September 13. Outside the IGTC, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport will also compete in the Japan Cup finale at Suzuka with two customer GT3 entries from FIVESTAR with TEAM DreamDrive and Max Racing, plus a GT4 entry from POP RACE.