Mercedes-AMG in Gulf 12h preview 07.12.2022: Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli Gulf 12 Hours Circuit Yas Marina December 9-11, 2022 Mercedes-AMG | 3x Pro, 1x Pro-Am Manufacturers’ Championship: 1st (126 points)

Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli
Gulf 12 Hours
Circuit Yas Marina
December 9-11, 2022




Mercedes-AMG | 3x Pro, 1x Pro-Am
Manufacturers’ Championship: 1st (126 points)
 


Dani Juncadella has one hand firmly on the IGTC crown after Mercedes-AMG opted to pair him with erstwhile solo candidates Jules Gounon and Raffaele Marciello. That decision means the trio can now share the title, just as they did in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS earlier this year, while fellow factory driver Luca Stolz also remains a mathematical contender.



Juncadella starts three points clear of Gounon, while Marciello is a further 15 behind. Therefore, finishing in positions third to 10th would leave Juncadella as the sole champion.



But victory or second place for GruppeM’s #89 Mercedes-AMG would see the winning TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa trio locked on the same number of points and finishing positions after one drop score is applied. Bathurst would no longer count towards Juncadella and Marciello’s totals, while Gounon’s Indy result would be removed. As such, each will be left with three wins or two wins and one second place, as well as the same result at the final round – IGTC’s last deciding factor when attempting to split tied drivers.



It’s a long shot but Stolz also remains a mathematical contender. The German starts 25 points behind Juncadella, the same number as available for winning. He’s part of Al Manar Racing by GetSpeed’s crew, which features Al Faisal Al Zubair and Fabian Schiller.



Stolz winning and Juncadella non-scoring would leave the duo tied on points and results: two wins and one second place. In that scenario Stolz would take the title by dint of his superior finishing position at the final round.
No driver from another of IGTC’s manufacturers – Audi Sport, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche – can win the championship.



Elsewhere, Kenny Habul and Martin Konrad wrapped up IGTC’s Pro-Am Challenge title at Indianapolis. Their SunEnergy1 by SPS entry, featuring Philip Ellis this weekend, completes Mercedes-AMG’s nominations.



Overall victory for any one of those cars would complete Mercedes-AMG’s sweep of the 2022 IGTC campaign and set a new record for consecutive wins. It shares the current benchmark, four, with Audi Sport. Meanwhile, a sixth IGTC victory for Gounon would move him one clear of current joint-record holder Christopher Haase.





- SRO also photo