When Jules Gounon lapped a specially prepared Mercedes-AMG GT3 around the Mount Panorama circuit during the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hour race weekend, he did more than just set a new GT lap record. In a blistering 1:56.6054, he honoured 130 years of motorsport excellence from Mercedes-Benz.

“The legacy of 130 years in motorsport is an extremely huge and valuable one,” says Christoph Sagemüller, head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. “Successfully carrying this into the future is a duty for all of us. I am delighted that we get this anniversary underway during the 12-hour race at Bathurst”.

Breaking records in the Mercedes AMG GT3

Held annually at the daunting Mount Panorama circuit, the Bathurst 12 Hour race weekend attracts some of the best GT drivers from around the world. This year, more than 47,000 fans flocked to see the multi-class endurance race from February 16–18. For Mercedes-AMG customers, this meant a fully catered, first-class spectator experience at the exclusive Mercedes-AMG Lounge, overlooking the Conrod Straight and action-packed Chase.

According to Jules, a three-time winner of the Bathurst 12 Hour, “Mount Panorama Circuit is one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks and one of my favourite of all time. This track is so special to me with three victories, two of them with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.”

Jules’ record-breaking lap was around four seconds quicker than the official GT3 record set by Maro Engel in 2023, and about two seconds quicker than the previous closed-cockpit track record set in 2019 by Luke Youlden in a Brabham BT62.

“The record lap demanded everything from me, especially in the middle sector with reaching over 240km/h across Skyline,” says Jules.

The Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver lapped Bathurst’s 6.213km length at an average speed of 191.82km/h. The specially prepared Mercedes-AMG GT3 featured an optimised aerodynamics package, a drag reduction system (DRS) derived from Formula 1, carbon brake system and around 485kW from its iconic 6.2-litre V8 engine. Jules and his mighty Mercedes-AMG GT3 achieved an incredible top speed of 308.71km/h down Mount Panorama’s Conrod Straight.

"What an incredible lap Jules pulled off here on the Mount Panorama,” says Christoph. “The will to compete, the passion for innovation and the hunt for records have always been a central part of our DNA.”

In the Bathurst 12-hour itself, Mercedes-AMG was aiming for a hat trick of outright wins and came tantalisingly close. The back-to-back winning team from 2022 and 2023 greeted the chequered flag in second place – less than three seconds off the win – and a Mercedes-AMG team made the podium in each class of the endurance classic, including a lights-to-flag victory in the GT4 category. In a remarkable show of strength for the GT3 race car, Mercedes-AMG took five of the top 10 outright spots.

130 years of excellence

For Mercedes-Benz, the pursuit of motorsport excellence began 130 years ago, just eight years after the Mercedes-Benz patent motorcar became the world's first automobile.

Widely regarded as the first competitive motorsport event, the Paris to Rouen race was held on July 22, 1894. Since that first race, a competitive fire has burned with Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG.

“130 years of motorsport by Mercedes-Benz is a unique period full of achievements,” Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, says. “We have always been a racing brand, we excelled in all major disciplines from Grand Prix racing to rallying.

“The Mercedes brand was even born out of competition: the first ever Mercedes dominated the Nice race week in 1901. The 300 SEL 6.8 AMG competition touring car based on the top-of-the-line S-Class model at the time is also famous. It secured the class win in the 1971 Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours – and AMG became the centre of public attention.”

The list of achievements over 130 years is extensive, but some highlights include Juan Manuel Fangio driving the W 196 R to the Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship in both 1954 and 1955; Sir Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson’s victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia in the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR; and the 1989 Le Mans 24-hour for the Sauber-Mercedes C9.

Then of course, there are the seven consecutive Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championships (from 2014-2020) and eight consecutive Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championships (from 2014-2021) won by the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

Mercedes-AMG will continue celebrating 130 years of competition throughout 2024. In addition to the record-breaking showing at the Bathurst 12 Hour, further celebratory activities are planned for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna from May 17–19 (Imola, Italy), the 24 Hour of Nürburgring from May 30–June 2 (Nürburg, Germany) and the Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 11–14 (Chichester, Great Britain).

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