Mercedes-AMG Safety Car returns for Bathurst 12 Hour

Mercedes-AMG will enjoy their largest-ever presence at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit, as the brand returns to support the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.

As well as having a record on-track presence in the race itself, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia will continue to provide the Safety, Course and Medical cars to be used across the February 3-5 weekend.

A pair of Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ cars will serve as the official Safety Car for Australia's International Enduro this year, continuing a relationship that commenced in 2015.

With 450 kilowatts and 850 Newton Metres of Torque from its 4.0-litre biturbo V8, coupled with a 0-100km/hr time of 3.4 seconds, the AMG E 63 S will be more than capable of leading the world-class field of GT3 Sports Cars.

A pair of Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedans will serve as course cars throughout the event, while the Bathurst 12 Hour Medical Team will have access to a Mercedes-Benz E 350 Sedan.

Meanwhile, a host of Mercedes-AMG customers will enjoy trackside hospitality throughout the event weekend, while Mercedes-AMG branding also appears around the iconic circuit.

In addition to a significant off-track presence and their role as the official vehicle provider of the event, Mercedes-AMG will enjoy their largest ever on-track participation in the around-the-clock race this year.

A record nine Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entries will compete in 2023, the most of any single GT3 brand in the history of the Bathurst 12 Hour. A further entry in the invitational class takes to 10 their presence this year.

The entry list is headlined by factory-supported entries from Triple Eight Race Engineering, Mercedes-AMG team Craft-Bamboo Racing and Mercedes-AMG team GruppeM Racing.

Mercedes-AMG Customer supported teams include SunEnergy1 Racing, Volante Rosso Motorsport, Tigani Motorsport / Valmont Racing, Scott Taylor Motorsport and Team Nineteen.

In 2022, Mercedes-AMG GT3s swept the Bathurst 12 Hour podium, the first time that has occurred in the race's GT3 era.

Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia Head of Media Relations and Brand Engagement Jerry Stamoulis said the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Race continues to grow in stature each year, taking its place alongside some of the world's most iconic GT endurance events.

"The calibre of Mercedes-AMG customer teams and drivers coming to tackle Mount Panorama every year just keeps building," he said.

"Mercedes-AMG customer teams filled the podium in 2022 and with the return this year of Pro entries, we can expect a number of strong entries to defend that title.

"Mercedes-AMG has been a proud supporter of the Bathurst 12 Hour Race for many years, as the supplier of the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Safety Car and numerous support vehicles. Once again, we also offer a prime opportunity to our valued Mercedes-AMG customers to join us and soak up all the action from our trackside hospitality facility.

"The Bathurst 12 Hour Race is one of the most important events on our calendar and we're looking forward to seeing a weekend of fierce competition."

LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour Event Director Shane Rudzis welcomed Mercedes-AMG back to the Mountain.

“Our relationship with Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia dates back to 2015 when they first provided the official Safety Car and Course Car vehicles for the race,” he said.

“That relationship is only exceeded by their long-term support for Australia’s International Enduro as competitors on track, exemplified this year with a record 10 cars entered among a world-class field.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mercedes-AMG, their customers and competitors back to the Mountain this year.”

The 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour will be contested across the February 3-5 weekend, with tickets on sale from Ticketek now.