After claiming victory twice at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, the German automotive manufacturer Mercedes-AMG is returning to the WEC. The first drivers of their lineup have already been announced: two Italians!
The 2024 World Endurance Championship (WEC) season concluded in early November with the Constructors’ Championship going to Japanese manufacturer Toyota, while Porsche’s #6, driven by André Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor, and Kévin Estre, secured the Drivers’ Championship. For the new season—kicking off in Qatar on February 28, 2025—a new team will take the stage: Mercedes-AMG. Partnering with the Italian Iron Lynx team, Mercedes-AMG will field two cars in the LMGT3 category, marking a return to the Sarthe circuit, where the team triumphed in 1952 and 1989, after more than 25 years.
The current lineup includes Matteo Cressoni, a former Italian Formula 3 champion, and Claudio Schiavoni, part of the team that secured a podium finish during this year’s Belgian round with cars #60 and #61. Iron Lynx’s presence in the 2025 WEC championship marks its fifth consecutive season in endurance racing, currently boasting three podiums. However, the Cesena-based team will no longer collaborate with the Iron Dames in the 2025 WEC grid, as the latter will continue in the category alongside Porsche and under the support of the Manthey team.
Mercedes-AMG: “The 2025 season is the right time to return to Le Mans”
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, shared his excitement about this new chapter for the German brand, setting a clear goal:“It’s no secret that we’ve been very eager to return to Le Mans. The 2025 season, with our entry into the FIA WEC, is the right time. The first FIA WEC season with LMGT3 cars has already been extremely exciting, and we aim to bring even more thrill in the future! Our successful Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the experienced Iron Lynx team are the perfect combination to achieve another milestone in our Customer Racing history “.
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, added:“I am very pleased that we managed to convince Iron Lynx of the enormous potential of our Customer Racing program. A short but intense collaboration has already led to an entry into the FIA WEC. This is extremely positive news for the entire Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing program “.
“We are extremely proud to welcome Mercedes-AMG as a partner,” stated Andrea Piccini, Team Principal of Iron Lynx, with enthusiasm.“Beyond being an extraordinary brand, they are highly motivated, determined, and hungry for success. With such strong support, I am confident that we will be able to start off strong and be competitive from the beginning. We can’t wait to receive our new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 race cars, begin our preparations for 2025, and continue our commitment to the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Endurance racing is in our DNA, and the FIA WEC is undoubtedly its pinnacle, so we are honored and excited to be part of it once again.”
Photo: WEC, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.
