The Bathurst 12 Hour race just got a whole lot more dramatic! Mercedes-AMG Team GMR’s hopes for a strong start were dashed by a sudden power issue during qualifying, leaving them facing a daunting challenge for Sunday’s race. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing—despite the setback, the team remains determined to turn things around, though history suggests starting further back than 11th on the grid has never led to victory. Will they defy the odds?
The #888 trio of Maro Engel, Mikael Grenier, and Maxime Martin found themselves sidelined early in Q1 on Saturday afternoon, their car plagued by mechanical troubles. Engel, a two-time Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy winner (2014 and 2023), could only watch from the pit lane as Lucas Auer, driving the #77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing car, set the pace with blistering lap times of 2:02.1713s and an even faster 2:01.9715s on his next attempt. Auer’s performance was undoubtedly impressive, but the real story of Q1 was the unexpected struggle of the #888 team.
Engel revealed to broadcasters that an engine issue forced them out of contention, saying, ‘We would’ve loved to have a go and have a crack, but unfortunately, we had a power-related issue. We need to investigate and ensure everything is sorted for tomorrow.’ This setback puts the team in a precarious position, as no one has ever won the Bathurst 12 Hour from a starting spot lower than 11th. And this is the part most people miss—while the odds are stacked against them, Engel remains optimistic, praising the speed of the Craft-Bamboo entry and expressing pride in Mercedes-AMG’s overall performance.
‘It’s good to see Lucas was quick here last year,’ Engel noted when asked about Auer’s performance. ‘We’re definitely rooting for them, even though we wish we were part of the action. But such is life, such is racing.’ He assured fans that the team would identify and resolve the issue before the race starts at 5:45 a.m. local time on Sunday. ‘We have a strong team, and I have no doubt we’ll be ready,’ he added.
Meanwhile, the top 10 cars will battle for the Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy starting at 4:15 p.m. local time on Saturday. But here’s the controversial question: Can Mercedes-AMG Team GMR overcome their qualifying disaster and make a miraculous comeback, or will this be a race to forget for the #888 crew? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think they stand a chance, or is history destined to repeat itself?
