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It Might Get Loud: Mercedes-AMG GT3 to Contest IMSA WeatherTech Series

From Car and Driver

Photo credit: Michael Simari and the Manufacturer
Photo credit: Michael Simari and the Manufacturer

Although it has sadly bid adieu to new-car road duty, AMG’s glorious naturally aspirated V-8 still offers its aural delight to race fans. And for 2017, Mercedes-AMG is bringing the 6.2-liter-powered AMG GT3 to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. If the noise that the old Pirelli World Challenge SLS GT3s made is any indication, the Corvettes may no longer be the best-sounding GT cars during the big-kid races at Daytona, Sebring, or Road Atlanta.

Photo credit: Michael Simari and the Manufacturer
Photo credit: Michael Simari and the Manufacturer

Two factory-backed efforts will be run through Riley Motorsports. One will race as AMG–Team Riley Motorsports, while the other will compete under the WeatherTech racing banner. A third confirmed entry, SunEnergy1 Racing, will operate as a customer team, and according to a Mercedes-AMG press release, other teams are preparing to announce the car as their choice for the 2017 season.



The AMG GT3s will race in the GTD class, alongside Acura’s new NSX GT3, which will no doubt add a bit of variety to the series. The U.S. program will be headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and AMG will send its own parts/service transporter to each WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge race to ensure logistical continuity. While GTLM is the top-ranked non-prototype class in IMSA competition, GTD is shaping up to be hugely interesting for 2017, and if nothing else, the auditory blend at this season’s WeatherTech races should be nothing short of heady.

Photo credit: Michael Simari and the Manufacturer
Photo credit: Michael Simari and the Manufacturer

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