Mercedes-AMG ‘Fully Respects’ ASP’s LMGT3 Decision

Mercedes-AMG customer racing boss Stefan Wendl says the German brand ‘fully respects’ the decision from longtime partner team Akkodis ASP to join forces with Lexus for an LMGT3 program, labeling it a “sad story” for the German manufacturer as its own FIA World Endurance Championship prospects remain in doubt.

The Jerome Policand-led Auto Sport Promotion squad confirmed on Tuesday that it intends to run a pair of Lexus RC F GT3s in the new-for-2024 class, subject to approval from WEC’s Selection Committee.

ASP had been heavily linked to Lexus in recent months as a means for the French outfit to join the LMGT3 grid amidst uncertainties that Mercedes-AMG would be given entry berths for the class next year.

In contrast to Lexus, which falls under the same umbrella as LMH manufacturer Toyota, Mercedes-AMG currently has no top-class prototype program and boasts virtually no existing relationship with the ACO from previous participations in WEC or recent presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

ASP’s decision means Mercedes-AMG is very likely about to lose one of its top customer racing teams in GT3 competition, as Policand previously indicated that his team will will not run a combined effort in WEC and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS for at least the first year of a globe-trotting program.

Wendl, however, pointed out that ASP is likely to retain some ties to Mercedes-AMG through its involvement in the Fanatec GT2 European Series, where it ran a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT2s this year.

“It’s kind of a sad story for us because we’ve had valuable memories with Jerome and with his team together,” Wendl said.

“Our drivers are also heavily linked to all the success they had in the past, but finally it looks like this comes to an end. At least in the Pro categories.

“We’ve been aware of this topic and in talks with Jerome [for] a while, [since the] beginning of the year. I fully respect, and this is also the position of AMG, that he tries to fulfill his dream to participate in Le Mans.

“This was the only chance to come close to this. [It] means this is the way he will go.

“We know that we will keep him in the family as he is a loyal customer also in [the] GT2 series and potentially also in Pro-Am racing with our cars and this is not a closed book from our perspective, at least another page.”

Mercedes-AMG Downplays LMGT3 Prospects for 2024

Wendl downplayed Mercedes-AMG’s own prospects of joining the LMGT3 grid, indicating the team has worked to make all necessary preparations for a WEC program but stating that the brand’s odds of joining the grid ‘look not so promising.’

“I’m still in a hope modus,” Wendl said. “We do not have a confirmation that we do not participate, so we try [and] we prepare.

“We are prepared with also with more than one team [that] would have the financial background to finance such a project.

“You have to know that the WEC would be for us no factory effort. So this is customer racing, the pure kind of customer racing with the Bronze- and Silver-rated driver involved supported by a factory driver, which we potentially would also send from AMG to the team to support the efforts of the team in this world championship.

“That’s why you need to have the financial package to make a WEC program possible and then on the other hand you need to get the permission from the ACO to make your car eligible there.

“We did everything we can do to prepare ourselves and the team to be ready for this but so far I would say it looks not so promising.”

Wendl also appeared to suggest that financial considerations played some role in ASP’s decision to move to Lexus.

“With regards to Jerome the financial package is exactly the topic,” he said.

“If you do not have an investor or a sponsor in the background who makes this possible then one of our best teams if you get approached by another company who’s willing to pay for everything then this is a matter of fact that it could work better.”