Mercedes-AMG has named the honourees in their first brand-internal Customer Racing Championship, together with trophy winners in an awards season postponed from 2020 when so much of the racing calendar was disrupted by the global pandemic.
Indeed the decision was taken to present awards determined over the cumulative 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Championship split into eight categories: DRIVER, PRO-DRIVER, DRIVER GT3, PRO-DRIVER GT3, DRIVER GT4, PRO-DRIVER GT4, TEAMS GT3 and TEAMS GT4.
Eligible to participate were all customer teams and drivers who participated in races with a Mercedes-AMG GT3, GT4 or SLS AMG GT3 in the past two years. Factory-supported Performance Teams and Performance Drivers were excluded from taking part.
The trophy in the DRIVER category went to Valentin Pierburg, the 34-year-old showed a consistently good performance with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by SPS automotive performance. His tally in 2021 included three class wins and numerous podium results, among others in the GT World Challenge Europe where he finished as runner-up in the Pro-Am standings.
At the same time, Pierburg also won the DRIVER GT3 title of the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Championship. As an appreciation, the Swiss-based driver receives high-quality leather products from AMG partner Santoni as well as the coveted main prize, a Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé.
For his victory in the PRO-DRIVER category, Jim Pla also received a C 63 Coupé. The 29-year-old convinced in multiple race series and in 2021, he became runner-up in the Pro-Am class of the European GT4 Series as well as third in the Silver category of the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup. His outstanding achievements with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 also secured him first place in the PRO-DRIVER GT4 category and a high-quality sim racing steering wheel from Italian AMG partner Cube Controls as a reward.
Jean-Luc Beaubelique, who, among others, shared the AKKA ASP Team’s Mercedes-AMG GT4 with Pla in the European GT4 Series, also gets an accolade. As the winner of the DRIVER GT4 title, the 58-year-old receives a Cube Controls steering wheel.
Russell Ward meanwhile was honoured as the winner in the PRO-DRIVER GT3 category, primarily having participated in American race series and, among others, having won the legendary 24-hour race at Daytona. For his performance, he received a selection of fine leather products from AMG partner Santoni.
AKKA ASP won the trophies for the most successful TEAM GT3 (pictured top) and for the best TEAM GT4. The French squad secured runner-up spot in this year’s GT World Challenge and won the title in the GT4 France Pro-Am class with the Mercedes-AMG GT4. In contrast to the honoured drivers, the teams received generous sums of prize money.
This is how the winners were determined
As insufficient races were held in 2020 to determine the winners in a fair way, a classification time frame comprising two seasons was in place for the first time this year. As a rule, separate points are allocated for GT3 and GT4 cars. The basis are the results in single-race classifications achieved after 12th November 2019. Points are attributed following the usual system of 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. As additional factors, the total number of participations, the distance of the race involved as well as the level of the series are being taken into account.
PRO-DRIVER overall standings
1 Jim Pla (FRA) 1063,58 points Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé
2. Russell Ward (USA) 1044,65 Bike from the SIMPLON factory
3. Indy Dontje (NED) 726,45 Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “AMG”
4. Patrick Assenheimer (GER) 661,37 Tailored Puma racing overall
5. Thomas Drouet (FRA) 639,26 Wine gift from UNGER WEINE
Winner DRIVER overall standings
1. Valentin Pierburg (GER) 1049,85 points Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé
2. George Kurtz (USA) 637,72 Bike from the SIMPLON factory
3. Jean-Luc Beaubelique (FRA) 613,50 Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “AMG”
4. Florian Scholze (GER) 570,85 Tailored Puma racing overall
5. Togo Suganami (JPN) 458,80 Wine gift from UNGER WEINE
Winner TEAM GT3 classification
1. AKKA ASP Team 1480,84 points Prize money
2. HTP-Winward 1362,40 Prize money
3. DXDT Racing 1154,27 Prize money
4. SPS automotive performance 1089,81 Prize money
5. Toksport WRT 933,33 Prize money
Winner TEAM GT4 classification
1. AKKA ASP Team 1669,00 points Prize money
2. CD Sport 819,50 Prize money
3. NM Racing Team 793,53 Prize money
4. Selleslagh Racing Team 783,87 Prize money
5. HTP-Winward 765,60 Prize money
Winner PRO-DRIVER GT3 classification
1. Russell Ward (USA) 720,05 points High quality leather articles from Santoni
2. Patrick Assenheimer (GER) 661,37 BWT ski set
3. Ezequiel Perez Companc (ARG) 632,03 Puma racewear
Winner DRIVER GT3 classification
1. Valentin Pierburg (GER) 1049,85 points High quality leather articles from Santoni
2. George Kurtz (USA) 637,72 BWT ski set
3. Florian Scholze (GER) 570,85 Puma racewear
Winner PRO-DRIVER GT4 classification
1. Jim Pla (FRA) 613,50 points Steering wheel from Cube Controls in AMG design
2. Marcel Marchewicz (GER) 422,08 BWT ski set
3. Lluc Ibañez (ESP) 420,00 Puma racewear
Winner DRIVER GT4 classification
1. Jean-Luc Beaubelique (FRA) 613,50 points Steering wheel from Cube Controls in AMG design
2. Yudai Uchida (JPN) 371,90 BWT-Skiset
3. Kris Wilson (USA) 321,00 Puma racewear
Christoph Sagemüller, head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport: “Already having had to do without our end-of-season celebration last year, disappointment was huge as we again are unable to hold a physical event once more. Therefore, sincere thanks go out to all the partners of Mercedes-AMG who have remained loyal to us in these challenging times. Without their support, all this could not have been realised in this way. The provision of attractive non-cash prizes further enhances the prize-giving ceremony. We are particularly happy that a considerable amount has been raised for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation again this year. This allowed us to pursue our passion for motorsport and at the same time do something good for disadvantaged children.”
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: “At Mercedes-AMG, the annual awards ceremony for the participants of our customer sports programme has become a tradition. And, of course, we are particularly happy to honour the achievements after two seasons for our Customer Racing Teams that have been so successful. Every single winner has more than deserved his prize, especially when considering the circumstances that sometimes were quite challenging this year. In this way, I would like to thank all teams and drivers for their outstanding achievements and I hope that it will be possible to do so again in person next year.”
