Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed have added a Pro Class Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo to the already confirmed Silver Cup entry for GetSpeed Performance in the Endurance Cup for the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe.
2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Champions Maro Engel and Luca Stolz combine for the effort, backed by BWT, Dutch driver Steijn Schothorst completing the season trio.
“I could hardly have wished for a better driver combination for this strong endurance series. With this line-up we can pursue ambitious goals. Luca and Maro belong to the crème de la crème of GT3 drivers and Steijn is a promising young driver. I firmly believe in an exciting and successful season in the GTWC,” says team boss Adam Osieka.
“I am really looking forward to the season and working with GetSpeed. With Luca and Stejin we have a powerful line-up. We have set ourselves high goals, although the GTWC is certainly one of the toughest GT3 series in the world. We are well prepared and will prepare ourselves well so that we can have a say in the fight for victory,” says Maro Engel. The 36-year-old has amassed an impressive trophy collection over the course of his long career. And the angel who grew up in Monte Carlo can refer to a wealth of experience. He started 52 times in the DTM and he was in Formula E from 2016 to 2018. His greatest successes include the championship in the FIA GT World Cup in 2015, in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in 2018 and victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2016.
The strategy and the pit stops are fundamentally important for Stolz
“I’ve been driving in a team with Maro for a long time. Great that it worked out to start together for GetSpeed. Now it’s up to Paul Ricard, hopefully we’ll find a good setup during testing. I think once we’ve warmed up a bit we’ll have a lot of fun in the season. In the long races in the GTWC, the team, the strategy and the pit stops are also crucial. So it will be a challenge for everyone. But we are well positioned. If the stars are right, we can also compete in one or the other race for overall victory,” says Luca Stolz, who, in addition to his GTWC title, also achieved a podium finish in 2018 and 2019 at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring.
Steijn Schothorst:
“This will be my first season in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Being able to drive in a completely new environment is very exciting for me. I’m ready for this new challenge. GetSpeed is a very experienced and very professional team. I also have two excellent colleagues. The overall package is strong. We’ll have to get to know each other a little more and coordinate with each other, but we have enough time for that. For all these reasons, I am sure that we will have a very, very good season,” said Steijn Schothorst. The 27-year-old comes from a family of racing drivers. His father Jeroen, his brother Pieter and his cousin Bas are also active in motorsport. The Dutchman has already competed in the GP3 series, in the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship and in the ADAC GT Masters.
The opening race of the Endurance Cup will take place in Imola from April 1st to 3rd. The race at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is the first of a total of five endurance races in the GTWC. The world’s strongest GT3 championship will also be driven on the Circuit Paul Ricard, in Barcelona and in Hockenheim. The highlight of the season is the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps from July 28th to 31st, 2022.
