Mercedes Le Mans Livery Pays Tribute to the Past
Mercedes and Iron Lynx’s three-car team will run in the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the infamous CLR incident in 1999.
After 26 years in the endurance racing wilderness, Mercedes-AMG is coming back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Moreover, they’re doing it with style, history, and a triple threat of Silver Arrows tribute liveries that’ll have any racing romantic feeling misty-eyed.
Let’s back it up a bit. The last time Mercedes showed up at the legendary Le Mans endurance race was in 1999. That year, its CLR prototypes were more famous for flipping than finishing. The program was canned, the brand went quiet on the Le Mans front, and that was that. That is, until now. Enter Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab and its three-car LMGT3 effort that channels the ghost of 1989. For those unaware, that’s the year the Sauber-Mercedes C9 stormed to a one-two victory at Le Mans.
Return of the Arrows
Each of the three Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3s will wear a retro silver livery, echoing that dominant Group C machine from the late ’80s. They’ve even gone all-in with color-coded mirrors and rear wing endplates, because if you’re going to do heritage, you better commit.
The throwback isn’t just about paint. It’s a nod to real legacy. In ’89, the late Jochen Mass, along with Stanley Dickens and Manuel Reuter, piloted the C9 to victory. Mass, who recently passed at age 78, was a legend behind the wheel, and this return feels as much like a tribute to him as it does a new chapter for the brand.
Two of the cars are full-season FIA World Endurance Championship entries. The first will be driven by Claudio Schiavoni and Matteo Cressoni. The second features Martin Berry, Lin Hodenius, and Mercedes veteran Maxime Martin.
The third car is where things get even more interesting. Secured via an auto-invite after winning last year’s European Le Mans Series LMGT3 title, the No. 63 car brings a bit of family flair to the world’s toughest race. It’ll be helmed by father-and-son duo Stephen and Brenton Grove, alongside AMG factory ace Luca Stolz. And while the Groves are Le Mans rookies, Stolz brings a bit of experience from his 2018 outing in a Ferrari 488 GTE.
Three Cars, One Message: We’re Back
“For Mercedes-AMG, the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a significant moment. We’re paying tribute to the legendary Sauber-Mercedes C9 and that triumph from 1989 in a very special way,” said Christoph Sagemueller, the brand’s head of motorsport.
And it shows. This return isn’t just about putting three fast cars on track. It’s about stitching together the brand’s past and present—about honoring victories, legends, and even losses. If you’re a fan of racing history, design, or just good old-fashioned endurance grit, don’t blink. This year’s Le Mans has a Silver Arrow shimmer that’s been 26 years in the making.
Photos: Mercedes-AMG
You must be logged in to post a comment.