Mercedes-AMG is celebrating its comeback at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year together with Customer Racing Team Iron Lynx.
After 26 years away, the brand will be on the starting grid with three cars.
A special design concept has been adopted for Le Mans with all three cars wearing ‘Silver Arrows’ colours reminiscent of the Sauber-Mercedes C9 from 1989. That includes the colour coding of the door mirrors which, together with differences in commercial backing on each car, differentiate the trio of Mercedes AMG’s this year.
36 years ago the Silver Arrows, with start numbers #63 and #61, achieved a dominant one-two victory. Among those at the wheel of the victorious number 63 was Jochen Mass who passed away just a few days ago.
The current cars with start numbers #60 and #61 are registered for the entire FIA WEC season in the LMGT3 class.
The Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 #60 will be driven by Italian trio Matteo Cairoli, Matteo Cressoni and Claudio Schiavoni – all three have competed at Le Mans on multiple occasions.
The Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 #61 will be driven by Australian bronze-ranked Martin Berry, who made his FIA WEC debut with Iron Lynx at Spa-Francorchamps and Lin Hodenius – who, at 18, is the youngest driver on the grid for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. The line-up is completed by experienced Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Maxime Martin from Belgium.
The third car with start number #63 qualified for the Le Mans 24 Hours via the European Le Mans Series LMGT3 Championship won by Iron Lynx with a Lamborghini. Australian father-son duo Stephen and Brenton Grove will be joined by Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Luca Stolz . It will be the first Le Mans start for the two Australians. Luca Stolz raced in 2018 in LM GTE Am.
#60
- Matteo Cairoli: has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans every year since 2017-2025 will be his ninth start
- Matteo Cressoni: seven appearances in Le Mans between 2015 and 2024, with Iron Lynx since 2021-2025 will be his eighth start //Best result: 3rd place in the LMGTE-Am-class (2021; Ferrari 488 GTE Evo)
- Claudio Schiavoni: at Le Mans without interruption since 2019, with Iron Lynx since 2020-2025 will be his seventh start
#61
- Martin Berry: Le Mans debut in 2025
- Lin Hodenius: Le Mans debut in 2025, also the youngest driver in the field
- Maxime Martin: Le Mans starts in 2011 to 2013, 2018 to2021, 2023 and 2024-2025 will be his tenth start // Best result: 1st place in the GTE Pro class (2020; Aston Martin Vantage AMR)
#63
- Brenton Grove: Le Mans debut in 2025
- Stephen Grove: Le Mans debut in 2025
- Luca Stolz: First start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 (3rd place in the LMGTE-Am-class; Ferrari 488 GTE) – 2025 will be his second start
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport : “For Mercedes-AMG, the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a significant moment – 26 years after the brand with the star last competed. In 1989, Mercedes-Benz celebrated a major success with a one-two victory. We are paying tribute to the legendary Sauber-Mercedes C9 and this triumph from back then in a very special way. The three Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 represent the present in Customer Racing, but with their special Silver Arrow design inspired by the past, they also pay tribute to a piece of history. I am delighted that we are able to continue this history at Le Mans.”
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: “The FIA WEC project and the collaboration with Iron Lynx have been intense from the very beginning. We are very proud of where we are right now, because there is a clear trend and a continuous learning curve. We can build on this foundation and continue to develop. A race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans is not just about fast lap times, but also about the perfect cooperation between the team, technology and drivers. That will also be an intense task, but one that we are looking forward to.”
Andrea Piccini – Iron Lynx Team Principal & CEO: “We are absolutely honoured to partner with Mercedes-AMG for this amazing initiative. We all grew up watching the Silver Arrows compete and dreamed about their outstanding drivers and great races. To now be part of this legacy is nothing short of amazing and is a milestone to remember for our team. We have been working hard since the start of this project to make progress, improve, and be competitive, and we will continue to do so in the weeks ahead of the race to give our absolute best on track. We think Le Mans will welcome the Silver Arrows with incredible passion, and we cannot wait to be there to experience it.”
Matteo Cairoli, Iron Lynx #60: “I really like everything about Le Mans. Even the traditional drivers’ parade a week before the start, with thousands of fans, is an absolute highlight and shows how important this race is. In 2025, I will be taking part in the 24-hour race for the ninth time. My clear goal this year is to drive a flawless, strong race. And of course, I personally dream of standing on the podium at Le Mans one day. The fact that Mercedes-AMG is bringing the brand back to La Sarthe after 26 years is something very special. We definitely want to give this return the recognition it deserves.”
Maxime Martin, Iron Lynx #61: “The feeling to start in Le Mans is always special – it is a special track and a special event. Le Mans is one of the biggest races in the world. With the team we try to prepare ourselves as best as we can. We are getting better and better from race to race and getting to know the car even more. Even when it’s the first time for my teammates in Le Mans, we are much looking forward to it. The cars are a homage to 1989 is a wonderful gesture as this period is a huge part of the history of the brand. It’s an honor to be part of the line-up as a Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver.”
Luca Stolz, Iron Lynx #63: “The 24h Le Mans is one of the most prestigious events in motorsport that you can compete in as a driver. The atmosphere is unique and everything around is similar to a Formula 1 event. To be there at the start is a great honour. It’s the first of three 24-hour races on three consecutive weekends – that’s immense. The characteristics of the Le Mans circuit are really cool, but different from those at the Nürburgring or Spa-Francorchamps. There are some long straights where you can catch your breath a little physically. I’m looking forward to racing with Brenton and Stephen Grove and hope we can achieve a good result.”
