Maro Engel opened the year in perfect form, winning both the Bathurst 12 Hours and the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring in the Intercontinental GT Challenge. In DTM, the 41‑year‑old Mercedes factory driver also struck early with a victory at the Red Bull Ring. Only in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS he is still chasing a first win, but with his experience he knows consistency is key; proven by his Endurance Cup title. With the Sprint Cup and overall title still up for grabs, and potential success in his other programmes as well, the German driver is aiming to add yet another title-winning trophy to his tally as the level of GT racing keeps on rising.
Strong start; no holding back
Starting the year strong in February, Maro Engel won the Bathurst 12 Hours in the Mercedes‑AMG GT3 together with Mikaël Grenier and Maxime Martin, claiming his first win there since competing in 2014.
“I’ve been working towards that win for many years, and to start the season with that win was fantastic and still puts a smile on my face today.”
He continued that form at the ADAC Ravenol 24 Hours of the Nürburgring of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, sitting behind the wheel of ‘The Cheetah’ the #80 Winward Racing Mercedes‑AMG Team RAVENOL together with Luca Stolz and once again Maxime Martin.
“It was probably the highlight in terms of races this year, especially with Max [Verstappen] competing, it puts GT racing out there to a wider audience again.”
At the Spa 24 Hours he stood again on the podium in the #48 Mercedes‑AMG Team Mann‑Filter by Winward Racing together with Luca Stolz and Lucas Auer.*
*Competing with both in the GTWCE Endurance Cup and with only the latter in the Sprint Cup
“We finished a strong second, almost a perfect start out of three races.”
That strong start has put him in the lead of the championship by just seven points as it currently stands, despite having missed the Suzuka 1000KM race and also missing the season finale, the Indianapolis 8 Hour.
With everything not being in his hands anymore, he hopes his teammates he raced with, Luca Stolz (2nd) and Maxime Martin (3rd), can bring the title home to the German manufacturer.
“I’d love to win it, but realistically, with not being able to participate, it’s not going to be a title that I will take. My fingers are crossed for them that they have a strong run in Indy and that I’m one of those to take the title. I look to them as my team.”
Having claimed second at the Spa 24 Hours, which counts towards the Endurance Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe championship, and scoring podiums beforehand, he underlines how important consistency is as he claimed the title with one round to spare at the Nürburgring 3 Hours race.
“It’s the most important thing to consistently score points, take the points available. This year we’ve had a particularly strong Endurance campaign, and on the Sprint side it has been challenging at times, but through the consistency we are still there.”
Because in GTWCE the 2024 Sprint Cup champion is still searching for victory in both the Sprint Cup, being in the hunt to claim the title again, trailing by 17 points, as well as the Endurance Cup this year. But winning is not necessary to call it a successful campaign, he explains to GT REPORT.
“Winning the title stands over any single race win. In the Sprint Cup right now there are other teams ahead of us and more the favourites to do so. The only thing we can do is focus on our job, try to get the most out of each race, and see how it goes.”
In DTM, chasing his first title, he started the season strong in the #80 Team Ravenol Mercedes‑AMG GT3, picking up third place and victory at the opening round of the season.
“That start has helped put us into the position we are today.”
He claimed one more victory and several podium finishes, putting him second in the standings, 23 points behind Thomas Preining as they head towards the season finale at Hockenheim.
“We were hoping at having a much better position going into the final, but nonetheless it’s still mathematically possible. So we will go there fully focused on our job, maximizing our potential, and then we’ll see what happens.”
GT on a rise, issues remain
Having mentioned the name of Max Verstappen, the multiple winner of the Nürburgring 24 Hours elaborates on how he sees the rise of GT racing.
“We’ve seen in GT racing over the past many years that it’s just getting stronger, better, bigger, more following. We see it in DTM every year. There are more spectators both on TV as well as at the track, also in GT World Challenge you feel it and you see it everywhere. Obviously since Max has participated and shown his interest, it’s strengthened that even more. The great thing is that the spectators who maybe before didn’t know so much about GT racing, once they tune in or they come to a race at the racetrack, they stay and they see how great the racing is. I think that’s great for all of us being involved in GT racing and in this community to continue to grow it and to show people how high the level is, how cool the cars and the racing is.”
But the four‑time F1 World Champion isn’t the only one contributing to that rise. “Valentino Rossi also really helped bring attention to GT racing. I’m obviously happy to be a part of it all.”
With Verstappen having his own racing team, trying to bring talented drivers from sim racing into the real world, the 41‑year‑old sees it as something unique and good for the sport, as the high costs remain an issue for people trying to enter. Also Lando Norris recently announced his own Formula team to help drivers reach the higher levels of motorsport.
“It’s obviously one of the challenges of our sport and a challenge I faced as well. There was a time when I was two years without racing because I didn’t have the budget to compete. I’d love to see more opportunities being given. It’s great what Max is doing and Lando is starting it as well, it’s great to see these guys who are at the top of our sport giving something back and trying to create opportunities.”
He underlines how important it is for young drivers to keep developing themselves. “In any sport, to become really good at something, you need to practice your skills and improve your skills. We would all like to see the sport being more accessible.”
As rumours are going around that the Dutch driver might compete in the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe championship in Portimão, it’s something he would welcome. “It would be great to have him racing with us in the field again.” And with the F1 calendar being announced for next season, there are chances that more drivers might compete in GT racing. “It would be fantastic. The more of them, the better. We would welcome every single one of them. They would see how fun it is to race GT cars. Obviously Lance [Stroll] came and had a go at Paul Ricard [the first round of GTWCE] as well. From what I heard, he really enjoyed himself.”
From hobby to success: only a few boxes left to tick
Going back to his own career, the 1985 Munich‑born driver tells GT REPORT how racing all started for him.
“I started in go‑karting,” as he did between 1996 and 1999 in Germany and France. “I think the story is quite known that I started together with Nico Rosberg.” As they both were the only German children in Monaco, they became friends quickly and started together in the early karting days.
“It started for me just as a hobby on the weekends to drive. The more I drove, the more I enjoyed it, the more I wanted to drive and practice and improve. And as we slowly then started to do some regional races and then some national races, the aim grew, the goal grew to become a professional racing driver. Then there is a lot of hard work and dedication in between that phase to finally making it as a professional racing driver. It’s been a journey that I really enjoyed and that has been tough and challenging at times, and that makes you dig deep because there’s a lot of talented drivers in the field and certainly that I’ve come across in my career. It’s always a fun and challenging environment which makes you get the best out of yourself.”
After a short spell in the lower ranks of Formula racing between 2003–2007, the real success came after he was signed as a Mercedes factory driver in 2008. Starting out in DTM and winning several championships and races all over the globe, there are still things left on the bucket list.
“The two main ones are the Spa 24 Hours and DTM, which are a bit, let’s say, missing still from my CV, so I’m still working on those.”
But with the things he already has achieved, he takes those for granted.
“There have been races and titles I’ve been fortunate to win, which of course I’m working towards repeating and taking again. Racing driver by nature, you’re competitive and you enjoy the competition of going up against the best, against the best in the business, and having to dig deep to try and come out on top.”
