Mercedes-AMG factory driver Maximilian Götz is pushing for his maiden British GT title this year, sitting second in the GT3 standings ahead of the penultimate round at Brands Hatch.
The 2021 DTM champion has shared the #18 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with Kevin Tse since making his British GT debut at the start of 2024. Like last year, Götz and Tse have claimed two wins from the first seven races — the difference is that this time they’ve unlocked consistency, finding their way onto the podium three additional times.
This improvement has propelled them four places higher in the standings compared to 2023, giving them a shot at the title.
“It’s been pretty good, I would say, in terms of pace,” Götz, satisfied with the results to date, tells DSC. “We’ve already brought home some trophies — we’ve won three races so far, including one this year at Oulton Park.
“But there have been some downsides, too. At Spa, for example, we didn’t score any points.
“Silverstone was also tricky — not because of pace, but more due to bad race luck. We just didn’t have things fall our way and ended up leaving with no points there.
“Overall, though, it’s been quite good. That’s racing — you can’t always control what happens. What’s important is that we’re still in the fight for the championship, and that’s a good position to be in.”
At Spa-Francorchamps, the #18 2 Seas Mercedes squad faced a major setback when a mistake by Tse sent him into the tyre barrier at the top of Raidillon. Tse walked away unhurt, but the Mercedes-AMG wasn’t so lucky.
2 Seas Motorsport was forced to source a replacement chassis from Germany, delivering it to Spa overnight and rebuilding the car in time for Saturday’s free practice and qualifying.
The following sprint race meeting at Snetterton — featuring two one-hour races — proved far better for Götz and Tse, keeping them firmly in championship contention.
They finished second in Race 1 and won Race 2, despite serving a seven-second success penalty from Race 1.
In Race 2, Götz built a seven-second lead from pole to offset the compensation time, allowing rivals a chance to chase the #18 after the pit stop. Tse held firm to secure the win, with Götz’s pace eclipsing fellow factory-level drivers such as Sandy Mitchell, Jonny Adam, and Marvin Kirchhöfer.
Götz praised the difference that 2 Seas Motorsport’s professionalism and experience with the AMG GT3 Evo has made in keeping them in the hunt.
“The team does a fantastic job. They really know the car well now. It’s my second year with them, and I’ve known the team for a long time already. We’ve made good progress over the last year and a half.
“The car has developed really well, and Kevin [Tse] feels comfortable in it too. Their track knowledge is excellent, and every time we arrive at a circuit, the car feels dialled in. We don’t complain about balance or being too slow.
“Package-wise, it’s strong. Mercedes has always been a good all-rounder in different conditions — hot, cold, wet, damp.
“That’s a big advantage, and I’m happy with it.”
Donington Park and Brands Hatch have swapped places on the calendar this year, with Donington now hosting the season finale. Both remain two-hour endurance races, primed to deliver a dramatic end to the 2025 campaign.
2 Seas Motorsport is looking to carry its Snetterton momentum forward into the final two races, with both the #18 of Götz/Tse and the #42 sister Mercedes of Kiern Jewiss and Charles Dawson producing strong results to this point.
The fight heads into the penultimate round with just 18 points covering the top five crews in the overall GT3 standings, representing four different manufacturers. Jewiss/Dawson lead on 118 points, Götz/Tse sit on 110, and Adam/Petrobelli (#7 Blackthorn Aston Martin) are on 109.
Every point matters, and the margins are razor-thin — the smallest mistake could be decisive.
“We just want to maximise our points. There’s no time to play around or be happy with just P3 or P4. We’re going for every point we can get — full send, but of course, without taking unnecessary risks.
“In British GT, it’s all about the Pro-Am combination, so we try to maximise our package every weekend. Sometimes you need a bit of compromise — that’s endurance racing.
“Different drivers, different conditions, tyre mileage, all of that plays a role. It’s not like DTM, where you fine-tune just for yourself. But that’s what makes it unique and special. And I think Kevin, the team, and I — we’re working really well together.”
As the British GT title fight reaches its crescendo, Götz’s combination of experience, composure, and outright speed could make the difference. With two endurance rounds left and an eight-point gap to first, he and Tse must go all in to seal the deal.
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
