A drought-breaking victory is always worth celebrating. Even before a trio of Mercedes-AMG GT3s greeted the chequered flag ahead of any other marque in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour race, Mercedes-AMG was already in first place.

Whether seated trackside, enjoying the hospitality of the salubrious Mercedes-AMG Lounge, or watching the live broadcast of the race at home, you couldn’t miss the presence of Mercedes-AMG. As a long-time sponsor, supporter and participant, the performance marque has been integral to the rise of the event that has become one of the world’s most iconic endurance races, and a must-do event for factory GT teams.

Entering the precinct via the main gate, Mercedes-AMG assumed pride of place on Manufacturers Walk. The all-electric luxury performance sedan from Mercedes-EQ, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53, was the deserving focal point for the display of high-powered machinery after Mercedes-AMG factory racing star, Maro Engel, removed its covers for the first time to Australian audiences at the outset of the three-day event.

Nearby, a low-slung Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series finished in eyeball-searing Magma Beam Orange created a stunning contrast. In terms of appearance and outright performance potential, the Black Series is the closest road-legal vehicle that Mercedes-AMG has ever built to the GT3 racers passing by mere metres away on Mount Panorama’s famous main pit straight at 200 km/h. One of only 28 Black Series models in Australia, it is also the model in which Engel broke the coveted production vehicle lap record of Germany’s Nürburgring.

Whether at the track or in front of the television, it was impossible to miss the distinctive AMG signage adorning the exit to The Chase at the bottom of iconic Conrod Straight, and leading into the final corner where many crucial battles for track position were to play out. Many immersive and informative Mercedes-AMG stories detailing key models and activities were also beamed to television viewers and trackside screens throughout the race.

The main GT3 category, plus a host of support events, were once again kept in order by the official Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ Safety Car, a duty the brand has been proud to perform since 2015. With intermittent rain and even occasional fog descending on the mountainous 6.2-kilometre circuit, an identical pair of E 63 S Safety Cars were a highly visible presence on the track.

The experience ramped up significantly for around 200 guests of the Mercedes-AMG Lounge on the weekend. The hospitality suite, on level seven of the Rydges Mount Panorama hotel that overlooks The Chase and Conrod Straight, affords incredible views around the racetrack precinct and beyond.

With full catering and bar service provided, plus big-screen coverage of the on-track action, it was the ideal location for guests to choose their own level of immersion in the weekend’s racing activities.

Guests could choose to join a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Mercedes-AMG pit garages, take a ride to the top of Mount Panorama to see the racing action across the top of the steep circuit as well as the famous adjoining camping areas, or to take a ‘taxi ride’ – a hot lap of the circuit in a Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy vehicle with a qualified driving instructor.

Guests who chose to base themselves at the Mercedes-AMG Lounge were treated to a revolving door of interviews with top drivers and team personnel. This year’s line-up included Mercedes-AMG factory driver Maro Engel, Triple Eight Race Engineering team manager Jamie Whincup and star driver, Broc Feeney, Supercars star Will Brown, and Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing boss, Stefan Wendl.

“It’s a great weekend, we’ve probably only missed it once in the past six years,” says regular Mercedes-AMG Lounge guest, Mandy Herauville. Mandy and her husband, Dean, are the owners of a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S and an A 45 S, plus a Mercedes-Benz V 250 Van and X-Class Ute. Brand passion runs deep in Mandy’s family. Her 78-year-old mother drives a Mercedes-AMG GT, and her father owns a Mercedes-Benz CLS.

The Melbourne-based couple travels to the Mercedes-AMG Lounge each year in a minibus with a group of friends, making it a social occasion as well as an opportunity to celebrate their favourite brand.

“We’re motorsport fans, we love to watch the racing and the driver interviews – anything as long as it’s entertaining,” she says. “I’ve done the taxi rides and the tours many times but if I’m honest, I’m a bit of a control freak and I’d rather be driving myself!”

Lounge guests entering the Rydges complex were greeted by an astonishing display of the latest Mercedes-AMG models, including a second example of the newly revealed EQS 53 and an almighty GT 63 S 4-Door Coupé.

Adding extra wow factor this year was the arresting sight of a Mercedes-Maybach S 680. The flagship luxury limousine is the most expensive production vehicle in the local Mercedes-Benz range – and the only one to be fitted with a silken V12 engine.

As a fitting end-point to a weekend of immersive Mercedes-AMG activities, the victory of the SunEnergy1 Racing team, prepared by Triple Eight Race Engineering with support from Mercedes-AMG, was particularly sweet.

It marked the brand’s first win at the revered Mount Panorama circuit since 2013. It was also a first for the Mercedes-AMG GT3, the track-focused model that is based upon the Mercedes-AMG GT road car, albeit with a raft of race-ready enhancements added. The GT3 has collected wins at iconic racetracks all over the world, but was missing Bathurst from its list of achievements – until now.

Sweetening the victory after a weekend-long battle, the Mercedes-AMG entry from Craft-Bamboo Racing crossed the finishing line second, less than 10 seconds behind the winner – a stunning result after 12 hours of racing.

The AMG factory-backed entry had started second last on the grid after missing qualifying due to an engine change, and executed a daring strategy that propelled the team into contention. A third Mercedes-AMG entry from Triple Eight Race Engineering completed the domination of the podium spots.

As the party got started around the track, Mercedes-AMG fans were able to toast a perfect ending to a weekend-long celebration of their beloved brand.

By Steve Colquhoun