Mercedes-AMG Unleashes Ten GT3 Cars At Bathurst For 2026
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Bathurst is back, loud and steep, and Mercedes-AMG has turned up determined to spoil everyone else’s weekend. From 13 to 15 February 2026 the Mount Panorama Circuit will host the Bathurst 12 Hour, and the badge from Affalterbach will be the most visible on the grid. Ten Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars are entered, split six in the Pro class, two in Pro Am and two in Bronze. As ever the race doubles as the season opener for the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Record Entry And High Ambition
This year’s entry list reads like a Who’s Who of GT3 hardware, with 36 cars from 12 manufacturers. Mercedes-AMG fields the largest single-brand contingent in the history of the event. That is not a coincidence. It is a statement. Three Performance Teams will carry the brand’s hopes into a race that chews up machinery and spits out only the durable. Expect an all-out assault on the top step of the podium.
What Bathurst Demands
Mount Panorama is a mountain with a racetrack bolted on, and it will punish anything that is vague, loose or timid. The circuit asks for bravery at the top of the mountain and precision through the bottom. Mercedes-AMG knows the score: victories came in 2013, 2022 and 2023, and recent years have produced a string of top finishes. With a deeper Pro-lineup than ever, the objective is simple — go for the win.
The Lineup To Watch
The Mercedes-AMG entries cover the key classes and carry familiar team names. Notable entries include car number 6 in the Pro class, multiple Pro entries filling the middle of the grid, and strong representation in Pro Am and Bronze classes. The grid for the endurance classic will be set through qualifying and a pole shootout on the day before the race proper.
IGTC Kicks Off And The Season Ahead
The Bathurst 12 Hour once again opens the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar. The 2026 IGTC visits five events across four continents, bringing together the endurance GT races that matter. Mercedes-AMG will be present at every round. The brand has claimed the manufacturers’ crown in recent seasons and arrives in 2026 with a record to defend and targets to improve.
Bathurst By The Numbers
Mount Panorama, opened in 1938, is 6.213 kilometres long and features 23 corners, two long straights and elevation changes of 174 metres with gradients up to 16 percent. The Bathurst 12 Hour has run in its modern GT3 era since 2011 and the 2026 event marks the 23rd overall running. The qualifying lap record stands at 2:00.8819, set in 2023. Expect high speeds, tight margins and the occasional bit of drama.
The race starts on Sunday 15 February at 5:45 a.m. local time, with qualifying and the pole shootout the day before. Mercedes-AMG has brought size, experience and intent to Bathurst. If you like cars that go quickly and keep going, this is one to watch.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
