Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing aims for IGTC success stateside

GruppeM Racing heads to North America aiming to sign off from this year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge with victory in the Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS on Saturday (5 October).

Maro Engel, Jules Gounon and Mikaël Grenier bid for glory at the “Brickyard” sharing the Asian team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 and aiming to repeat last year’s IGTC end-of-season win achieved in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing, which operates from Hong Kong and Germany, will be making its third IGTC appearance of the season, having competed at Bathurst (AUS) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL).

The team started from the second row of last year’s corresponding Indy race, finishing third overall (Maro Engel /Daniel Juncadella/Luca Stolz) on its Indy debut – less than one-second behind the second-placed car.

Maro Engel (D). Age 39

GruppeM history: 2017 FIA GT World Cup (Macau), podium (main race). 2018 IGTC won Suzuka plus third and second Macau. 2022 DTM. 2023 IGTC third Bathurst & Indy, won Gulf 12 Hours (with Mikaël Grenier). 2024 IGTC, eighth Bathurst.

“We have a very strong driver line-up, a great car in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 while the GruppeM team is top-class. I’m looking forward to getting on track to see how we stack up against the opposition.”  

“This will be my third time competing in the Indy 8 Hour. In 2021 with Jules and then last year with GruppeM.” 

Jules Gounon (AND). Age 29

GruppeM history: 2022 Abu Dhabi Gulf 12 Hours.

“I’m looking forward to racing with GruppeM again and fighting for a top result. I hope we can win the race and help Mik claim the IGTC Driver’s title which I won last year. The Indy track is iconic, crossing over the ‘bricks’ every lap.”

“I was fortunate enough to win in IMSA [GTD Pro] there last year. Kissing the legendary ‘bricks’ was a good feeling – it’s the only time my girlfriend allowed me to kiss something other than her! I’ve done the Indy 8 Hour three times, finishing second [2023] and third [2022] plus the IMSA race class win, so a lot of good history for me there.”

Mikaël Grenier (CAN). Age 31

GruppeM history: 2022 DTM plus IGTC fourth 24 Hours of Spa. 2023 IGTC third Bathurst, ninth Kyalami, Spa-Francorchamps, first Gulf 12 Hours.

“We have a very good driver line-up with Jules and Maro, and we’re definitely heading to Indy aiming for victory. I’m excited to be back with GruppeM Racing.”

“I’m still in title contention but need a good points haul to have any chance. It’s a track I know very well. I raced there earlier this month in IMSA, taking GTD ‘pole’, finishing third, and competed there a couple of other times.”

Kenny Chen, GruppeM Racing owner

“A victory is definitely our aim.”

“Third-place was a decent result on our debut at Indy last year and having finished second at Laguna Seca in 2019, we’re maximum attack to achieve our first win in North America.”

“With Maro, Jules and Mik, I firmly believe we’ll have great pace throughout the eight-hours. It’ll be good to get on the racetrack again after four months since Spa.”  

Andy Smith, GruppeM Racing Chief Operating Officer

“We’re looking to finish off our IGTC season off with a win or be the best-placed Mercedes-AMG.”

“We’ve a great driver line-up combined with a fantastic car in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 so we have all the ingredients in place for outright success.”

“We claimed a podium on our Indy debut last year. It’s not a traditional GT track without stating the obvious but it’s an interesting place to go to for our [European] team to experience. It’ll be good fun I’m sure.”