TRIPLE Eight Race Engineering has drafted in German ace Maximilian Götz to join its Supercars stars Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney in an all-out tilt at Bathurst 12 Hour glory.
Triple Eight ran the Mercedes-AMG GT3 which took out the 2022 edition of the event, while the sister car of van Gisbergen/Feeney/Prince Jefri Ibrahim completed a one-three.
With all-pro line-ups now back, Ibrahim will make way for Mercedes performance driver Götz in a Supercheap Auto-backed #888 entry.
Feeney will head in full of confidence, having won the three-hour GT enduro at last month’s Bathurst International before taking his maiden Supercars race win in Adelaide.
“Any day you get to drive at Bathurst is a good day, let alone in these cars,” said the 20-year-old.
“It’s really cool to have the top teams and drivers from around the world coming back to Australia, and getting the chance to go head-to-head with them around one of the best race tracks in the world will be next level.
“It’s definitely an adjustment switching between the right-hand drive Supercar and the left-hand drive GT car,” he added.
“But once you’ve got your eye in and you’ve tuned in your spatial awareness, it’s so much fun.
“The AMG GT3 is a weapon and our Supercheap Auto livery is going to look incredible on track.
“I can’t wait to do our part to try to repeat the Mercedes-AMG podium lockout we had in 2022.”
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, expressed excitement at what the partnership can achieve at the February 3-5 event.
“We’re honoured to partner with the championship-winning Triple Eight team for the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour, fielding an all-pro outfit,” Wendl said.
“With the support of strong partners and in the hands of Shane, Broc and Maxi I believe the team have what it takes to be a competitive trio to tackle the infamous Mount Panorama.”
Among Götz’s achievements is winning the 2021 DTM title and Bathurst 12 Hour podium finishes in both 2019 and 2020.
