Mercedes to bring three C9 design cars to Le Mans

After 26 years of absence, Mercedes-AMG returns to the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. The German manufacturer will compete in the LMGT3 category with customer team Iron Lynx and three Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 cars in the prestigious endurance race taking place from June 11-15.

Homage to the legendary Silver Arrows

The three cars will sport a special livery paying tribute to the iconic Sauber-Mercedes C9, responsible for the historic 1-2 finish in 1989. The signature silver base of the "Silver Arrows" is complemented by distinctive elements like color-coded mirrors - a feature used for quick car identification during that era.

The term "Silver Arrows" has legendary origins in motorsport. According to history, it was born in 1934 when Mercedes removed paint from their W25 to reduce weight and meet the 750kg regulation limit, revealing the bare aluminum's silver finish. This nickname has since accompanied Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicles, becoming fundamental to their racing identity.

At Le Mans, the Silver Arrows had their finest hour in 1989 when the Sauber-Mercedes C9s claimed the top two positions overall. Those silver prototypes, powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine, dominated the race and set a speed record on the Hunaudières straight that stood for years.

This design choice isn't accidental, as it connects Mercedes-AMG's current Customer Racing program with one of the brand's most successful chapters at the French endurance classic. Among the drivers who took the #63 Sauber-Mercedes C9 to victory in 1989 was Jochen Mass, who recently passed away.

Three Mercedes-AMG teams at Le Mans 2025

Mercedes-AMG will be represented by three different entries:

• The #60 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 will feature an all-Italian lineup of Matteo Cairoli, Matteo Cressoni and Claudio Schiavoni, all with multiple Le Mans appearances.
• The #61 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 will be driven by Martin Berry (Australia), who made his FIA WEC debut with Iron Lynx at Spa-Francorchamps, alongside Lin Hodenius (Netherlands), who at 18 will be the youngest driver on the grid. Completing the lineup is experienced Mercedes-AMG factory driver Maxime Martin (Belgium).
• The #63 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 will feature Australian father-son duo Stephen and Brenton Grove, making their Le Mans debut. They'll be joined by Mercedes-AMG factory driver Luca Stolz (Germany), who previously raced at La Sarthe in 2018.

Toyota reveals special livery for Le Mans hypercar

While Mercedes-AMG debuts in LMGT3, Toyota will compete in the top Hypercar class with a special design. The #7 GR010 HYBRID, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, will sport a red and white scheme inspired by the TS020 (GT-One) that raced in 1998-99. This livery maintains the essence of the original model that gained popularity among fans through its appearance in the first Gran Turismo video game.

Mercedes-AMG's future WEC hypercar project

According to industry sources, Mercedes-AMG is considering a return to top-class endurance racing. The German manufacturer is in talks with key players and evaluating potential participation in both IMSA and WEC with either an LMDh prototype or a bespoke hypercar, which would mark its full return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the late 1990s.

This project could have broader implications. There's speculation that Mercedes might use hypercar development to optimize resources for its Formula 1 team, taking advantage of the flexibility these projects offer compared to F1's budget cap restrictions.

Quotes from the key players

Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, stated: "For Mercedes-AMG, competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is very special after 26 years away. The special design of our three Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 cars represents our current Customer Racing program while honoring an important chapter of our history."

Matteo Cairoli, driver of the #60 Iron Lynx entry, added: "In 2025 I'll be competing in the 24-hour race for the ninth time. My goal is to deliver a flawless, strong performance. Personally, I dream of one day standing on the Le Mans podium."