Mercedes AMG Team GMR Secures Dramatic Victory at 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour
Bathurst, Australia – Mercedes AMG Team GMR clinched a remarkable victory in the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour, overcoming a 29th-place grid start. The trio of Maxime Martin, Mikael Grenier, and Maro Engel demonstrated resilience and strategic prowess to secure their first win together.
At the final restart, Martin capitalized on a collision between the leading cars, ultimately crossing the finish line first. “Starting the weekend, I don’t think we expected to win,” Martin reflected. “I was just patient… we made zero mistakes, a fantastic race.” This race marks the fourth Bathurst 12 Hour win for Mercedes-AMG and a significant milestone for Engel, who has pursued this victory for over a decade.
The race was tumultuous, characterized by nine Safety Cars and a lengthy red flag due to a severe accident involving the leading #77 Craft Bamboo Mercedes-AMG, which eliminated the vehicle from contention. Fortunately, driver Ralf Aron is reported stable after being hospitalized.
As the race resumed, teams faced a strategic sprint to the finish. The #888 GMR Mercedes benefited from well-timed pit stops and optimal fuel management. Following a late-race incident that impacted the leading #32 WRT BMW, Gounon and the #75 Express AMG, Martin seized the lead and maintained it, finishing 1.03 seconds ahead of the competition.
High Class Racing’s #86 Porsche secured a commendable second place, along with the Bronze class title, while Team WRT’s #46 BMW and the #55 Jamec Racing Audi rounded out the podium.
In the overall standings, Bastian Buus finished sixth in the #911 Absolute Racing Porsche, while reigning champions from the #75 Express team placed seventh, marking their first finish outside the top three since 2020. The #45 RAM/GWR Mercedes led the Pro-Am category in 13th overall.
This year’s Bathurst 12 Hour underscores the unpredictability and intense strategy that define endurance racing, as teams innovated through challenges both on and off the track.
Results Summary:
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888 Mercedes AMG Team GMR – Maxime Martin, Mikael Grenier, Maro Engel
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86 High Class Racing Porsche
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46 Team WRT BMW
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55 Jamec Racing Audi
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89 Team KRC BMW
Further analysis and details to follow.
