GTD-Pro class podium result for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing in Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

GTD-Pro class podium result for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing in Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing led the GTD-Pro podium at Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, claiming a 1-2-3 finish in the class.

Driving the No. 33 Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3, Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen, and Felipe Fraga held off the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Patrick Long, Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen to take the victory by a mere 0.741 seconds.

The No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Kenny Habul, Mikael Grenier, and Tristan Vautier followed the No. 33 and No. 16 across the line to complete the top three in the GTD-Pro class and the Mercedes-AMG sweep of the podium.

Keating, Bleekemolen, and Fraga battled Long, Hardwick, and Heylen in the closing laps of the race, with Keating edging out Long at the checkered flag to take the win.

“It was an intense battle all the way to the finish,” Keating said. “At the start of the race, we knew the competition was going to be tough, but I’m proud of the way we drove and the way our Mercedes-AMG GT3 held up.”

The victory in the GTD-Pro class marked the first win of the season for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing and the first win in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the No. 33 team.

“It’s a great way for our team to start the season,” said Bleekemolen. “We’ve been working hard all winter, and it’s great to finally see the hard work pay off. This is a great result for Mercedes-AMG and for our team.”

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing’s 1-2-3 finish in the GTD-Pro class at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is a testament to the team’s hard work and the performance of the Mercedes-AMG GT3. The No. 33 team will look to continue their success at the next round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in May.