Maro Engel

Maro René Engel (born 27 August 1985) is a German professional racing driver. He is a Mercedes-AMG factory driver since 2008 and a brand ambassador since 2017.

Engel has won the Macau GT Cup four times (2014, 2015, 2022, 2024), the Nürburgring 24 Hours twice (2016, 2026), and the Suzuka 10 Hours (2018), Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup (2018), GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (2024) and Bathurst 12 Hour once (2026). Additionally, Engel was overall GT World Challenge Europe champion in 2024, and is a three-time Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) race winner and two-time 24 Hours of Daytona class winner.

Engel currently competes in DTM, GT World Challenge Europe, IMSA, Intercontinental GT Challenge and the FIA GT World Cup. Over his career he has raced in a variety of different series: in Formula 3, V8 Supercars, FIA Formula E and the three eras of the DTM.

Engel holds the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for road-legal production cars since September 2024, setting a lap time of 6:29.090 driving the Mercedes-AMG ONE, surpassing the previous record by over six seconds. He also holds the pole lap record for the Bathurst 12 Hour since 2023.

Racing career

Early career

Born in Munich, Engel competed in karting in Germany and France between 1996 and 1999 and finished fourth in the 2000 European Junior Karting Championship. He then moved onto Formula BMW, finishing third in the 2001 Junior Cup, before finishing eighth in Formula BMW ADAC the following year.

Formula Three (2003–2007)

After short spells in Formula Three in 2003-2004, and Italian Formula 3000 in 2005, Engel competed in full seasons in British series in 2006 and 2007, in 2006 receiving backing from Direxiv. In 2007, he was signed as a Mercedes-Benz Junior driving for Carlin Motorsport. He finished fifth with one victory in 2006, and was runner-up to Marko Asmer in 2007 with three wins.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2008–2011) Engel driving at Hockenheim in the 2008 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season. In 2008, Engel was signed as a factory driver by AMG Mercedes to drive a one-year-old car run by Mücke Motorsport in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for the 2008 season. He remained with the team 2011 season. In four years racing in the category, he achieved a best result of sixth place at first round held at the Hockenheimring in 2009. He went on to finish the 2009 season in twelfth place over all, scoring eight points.

GT Racing (2012) After leaving DTM, Engel spent the 2012 year making several guest appearances in selected sports car racing championships worldwide as a member of the AMG Customer Sports team, winning the fifth round of the 2012 Australian GT Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 prepared by Erebus Racing.

V8 Supercars (2013)

Engel made his V8 Supercar debut in 2013, driving a Erebus Mercedes E63 AMG entered by Erebus Motorsport (formerly known as Stone Brothers Racing). Engel replaced Shane van Gisbergen as the driver of the No. 9 SP Tools entry. Engel had five race retirements. His best finish was a ninth place in a hastily prepared under developed car at the third race of the Darwin round.

Macau Grand Prix GT Cup (2013)

Next to his commitments in V8 Supercar for Erebus Motorsport, Engel competed in the 2013 Macau GT Cup with a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 scoring pole position and a lap record in qualifying. Narrowly missing out on the victory due to sustaining a puncture on the front left while leading, two laps before the end.

GT Racing (2014)

In 2014, Engel resumed his duties as a member of the AMG Customer Sports team racing exclusively with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Making his debut in the Bathurst 12 Hour racing for Erebus Motorsport together with Bernd Schneider and Nico Bastian, Engel scored pole position with a lap record of 2min03.8586 and winning the inaugural Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy. The German trio dominated the race for nine hours before an issue forced them to pit for repairs dropping them seven laps down. He participated in his first 24 Hours Nürburgring racing for German team ROWE Racing finishing the "Hardest race in the World" in third place together with his teammates Nico Bastian Christian Hohenadel and Michael Zehe.

Engel also competed in various VLN races for ROWE Racing winning the ninth round of the VLN championship. He also raced in the German ADAC GT Masters series for ROWE Racing.

Macau Grand Prix GT Cup (2014)

Racing for the Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy team in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 Engel returned to Macau winning the 2014 Macau GT Cup ahead of his teammate Renger van der Zande scoring a 1-2 win in the gambling capital against Audi, BMW, Porsche and other factory teams and drivers.

GT Racing (2015)

Engel continued racing with and for the AMG Customer Sports team in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. He was also part of the Mercedes-AMG drivers that assisted development of the new Mercedes-AMG GT3.

FIA GT World Cup (2015)

In 2015, the Macau GT Cup was recognised by the FIA as the FIA GT World Cup lifting its status to the World Cup for GT3 cars. Engel returned with his Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy team in the successful Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Engel won the twelve-lap qualification race from third on the grid after Stefan Mücke was penalised for a Safety car procedure infringement. Starting from pole position in the eighteen-lap race, Engel won the race and was crowned the inaugural FIA GT World Cup Champion. Through Engel's victory combined with the fourth-place finish of his teammate Renger van der Zande, Mercedes-Benz won the inaugural FIA GT Manufacturers World Cup.

GT Racing (2016)

Racing for Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon in the new Mercedes-AMG GT3, Engel took overall victory at the Nürburgring 24 hours together with his teammates Bernd Schneider (racing driver) Adam Christodoulou and Manuel Metzger. Engel made the decisive pass to win the race on the last lap. His winning margin was the tightest in the history of the race with merely 5,6s separating the first two cars. Engel was also the first winner of the SCG Pole position trophy after scoring pole position for the Nürburgring 24 hour race in drying track conditions with a lap of 8 minutes 14.563 in the No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with which Engel also raced performing a double start duty and finishing the race in fourth position with this second car.

Following two victories in 2014 and 2015 in Macau, Engel finished third at the 2016 FIA GT World Cup,

Formula E In August 2016, Engel joined Venturi Grand Prix to make his debut in the 2016-17 season. In his second season, Engel finished 12th in the driver standings, scoring a best result of fourth at the Paris ePrix.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2017)

In 2017, Engel rejoined the DTM with Mercedes-Benz, taking his maiden DTM win at the Moscow Raceway.

GT Racing (2018)

In 2018, racing for Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon, Engel went on to win the prestigious Blancpain Endurance Series title with his co-drivers, Luca Stolz and Yelmer Buurmann. Racing for Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM, he went on to win the Suzuka 10h Intercontinental GT Challenge round sharing the car with Raffaele Marciello and Tristan Vautier.

Racing for Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon, Engel finished second at the Nurburgring 24h with his team mates Adam Christodoulou, Manuel Metzger and Dirk Mueller.

At the FIA GT World Cup in Macau, Engel finished second with his Mercedes-AMG GT3 behind the winning BMW M6 GT3 of Augusto Farfus.

GT Racing (2019)

In 2019, Engel finished runner up in the Blancpain GT Series, Overall and Sprint championships as well as third in the Endurance championship racing for Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon with his team mates Luca Stolz (sprint & endurance) and Yelmer Buurmann (endurance). He also scored Pole Position for the Nurburgring and Spa 24h races, a feat which had not been done by any current GT driver scoring pole position for the two biggest GT only Sportscar races in the world in the same year. Together with Yelmer Buurmann and Luca Stolz, he finished the Spa 24h race in third place.

GT Racing (2020)

In 2020, Engel finished third in the ADAC GT Masters championship racing for Mercedes-AMG team Toksport and sharing the car with his team mate Luca Stolz, they were in contention for the title until the final race but had to contend with third place in the final rankings. Engel also scored his second consecutive pole position for the Nurburgring 24h race scoring his third SCG Pole Position award making him the driver with the most pole awards since its inception.

GT Racing (2021)

In 2021, Engel won the Daytona 24h race in the GTD class racing for Winward Racing together with Philipp Ellis, Indy Dontje and team owner Russell Ward. It marked the first class win for Mercedes-AMG at the legendary Daytona 24h race.

Racing for Mercedes-AMG team Toksport (sprint) and Mercedes-AMG team HRT (endurance), Engel finished runner up in the GT World Challenge sprint championship and third in the GT World Challenge Overall championship together with his team mate Luca Stolz.

In the ADAC GT Masters championship in a repeat scenario from the previous year, Engel and team mate Luca Stolz racing for Mercedes-AMG team Toksport were in contention until the final race but had to contend with third in the final rankings after a controversial penalty in the final race while leading and on course to take the championship.

GT Racing (2022)

In 2022, Engel won his third Macau Gran Prix GT Cup racing for Mercedes-AMG team Craft Bamboo. He also finished second at the Bathurst 12h with team mates Daniel Juncadella and Kevin Tse. At the Nurburgring 24h, Engel finished third racing for Mercedes-AMG team Getspeed together with his team mates Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon. At the Sebring 12h, Engel finished third in GTD PRO racing with Jules Gounon and Cooper McNeil for Weathertech Racing. After a five year break, Engel returned to DTM in under its new GT3 regulations scoring one pole position and two podiums.

GT Racing (2023)

In 2023, Engel took his second class win in the Daytona 24h winning the GTD Pro class for Weathertech Racing together with team mates Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and team owner Cooper McNeil. Later that year. he also took the class win at the Petit Le Mans 10h and third at the Sebring 12h in GTD PRO for Weathertech Racing, once again with Gounon and Juncadella.

At the Bathurst 12h, Engel scored Pole Position setting a new qualifying track record of 2min00,8819 on the way to taking his second Allan Simonsen Pole award driving for Mercedes-AMG team GruppeM. In the race the following day together with team mates Raffaele Marciello and Mikael Grenier he finished in third place after the crew was forced to change a organizer supplied modem at the last pitstop which stopped working, dropping them from a comfortable lead to second place. In the final stint, Engel collided with his Daytona winning team mate Jules Gounon while fighting to regain the lead. Following the contact, Engel received a drive through penalty and dropped to third place. In the remaining 30 minutes, Engel closed down the gap to the leaders and the finish was the closest finish in Bathurst 12h history with the top three cars covered by 1,4177s.

In DTM, Engel took one pole position and one win in what was a difficult year for the Mercedes-AMG cars as a whole.

In GT World Challenge Endurance, Engel finished third in the Endurance championship racing for Mercedes-AMG team Getspeed (season except Spa 24h)and Mercedes-AMG team GruppeM (Spa 24h).

At the FIA GT World Cup in Macau, racing for Mercedes-AMG team Craft Bamboo, Engel qualified in third place and finished the qualifying race in second place behind brand mate Raffaele Marciello. In the main race, Engel suffered a shifting issue while running in second place which forced him to retire from the race.

GT Racing (2024) 2024 saw Engel open his year at the 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Luca Stolz, Jules Gounon, and SunEnergy1 Racing team owner Kenny Habul. During the seventh hour, their AMG GT3 ran into issues, and after repeated trips to the garage, was finally retired after 193 laps completed. He would fare better in the Bathurst 12 Hour, finishing eighth in the No. 130 GruppeM Racing AMG with Felipe Fraga and David Reynolds. However, he would suffer further retirements at both the Nürburgring 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Spa.

In DTM, Engel was embroiled in a title fight with Mirko Bortolotti and Kelvin van der Linde. Despite not winning a race, he would finish the season in third, with one pole, five runner-up finishes, and seven podiums.

Engel joined Winward Racing, entered as Winward Racing Team Mann-Filter in the Sprint Cup and Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter in the Endurance Cup, for the GT World Challenge Europe season. He and Lucas Auer were fighting for the Sprint Cup with Team WRT's Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, eventually coming out on top by 2.5 points with three wins and six podiums. Both would take the GT World Challenge Europe title over Vanthoor and Weerts as well by the same margin. The two of them, along with Daniel Morad, would find less success in the Endurance Cup, scoring a podium at Nürburgring and victory at the final race at Jeddah to finish sixth in the standings.

Engel went on to take his second victory at the GT World Cup.

Engel was brought into the No. 30 Craft-Bamboo Racing entry to replace Daniel Morad for rounds 2 and 3 of GT World Challenge Asia at Buriram and Fuji, respectively. He would end up scoring points in both races at Fuji, finishing second in the latter alongside Cao Qi.

Commitment Engel is a member of the 'Champions for Peace' club, a group of 80 famous elite athletes including Novak Djokovic and Sergey Bubka among others, committed to serving peace in the world through sport, created by Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization.

Racing record

Career summary

† Guest driver ineligible to score points. Season still in progress.

Complete Formula Three Euro Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) † Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points 2008 Mücke Motorsport AMG-MercedesC-Klasse 2007 HOC OSC MUG LAU NOR ZAN NÜR BRH CAT BUG HOC 16th 0 2009 Mücke Motorsport AMG-MercedesC-Klasse 2008 HOC LAU NOR ZAN OSC NÜR BRH CAT DIJ HOC 12th 8 2010 Mücke Motorsport AMG-MercedesC-Klasse 2009 HOC VAL LAU NOR NÜR ZAN BRH OSC HOC ADR SHA 15th 3 2011 Mücke Motorsport AMG-MercedesC-Klasse 2008 HOC ZAN SPL LAU NOR NÜR BRH OSC VAL HOC 13th 5 2017 Mercedes-AMG MotorsportSILBERPFEIL Energy AMG-MercedesC63 Coupé 2017 HOC1 HOC2 LAU1 LAU2 HUN1 HUN2 NOR1 NOR2 MSC1 MSC2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SPL1 SPL2 HOC1 HOC2 15th 51 2022 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo ALG1 ALG2 LAU1 LAU2 IMO1 IMO2 NOR1 NOR2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SPA1 SPA2 RBR1 RBR2 HOC1 HOC2 12th 65 2023 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo OSC1 OSC2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NOR1 NOR2 NÜR1 NÜR2 LAU1 LAU2 SAC1 SAC2 RBR1 RBR2 HOC1 HOC2 10th 107 2024 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo OSC1 OSC2 LAU1 LAU2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NOR1 NOR2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 RBR1 RBR2 HOC1 HOC2 3rd 203 2025 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo OSC1 OSC2 LAU1 LAU2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NOR1 NOR2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 RBR1 RBR2 HOC1 HOC2 3rd 184 2026 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo RBR1 RBR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 LAU1 LAU2 NOR1 NOR2 OSC1 OSC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 HOC1 HOC2 1st* 160* Season still in progress.

Supercars Championship results V8 Supercar results Year Team No. Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts 2013 Erebus Motorsport 9 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG ADE R1 ADE R2 SYM R3 SYM R4 SYM R5 PUK R6 PUK R7 PUK R8 PUK R9 BAR R10 BAR R11 BAR R12 COA R13 COA R14 COA R15 COA R16 HID R17 HID R18 HID R19 TOW R20 TOW R21 QLD R22 QLD R23 QLD R24 WIN R25 WIN R26 WIN R27 SAN R28 BAT R29 SUR R30 SUR R31 PHI R32 PHI R33 PHI R34 SYD R35 SYD R36 28th 836

Bathurst 1000 results Year No. Team Car Co-driver Position Laps 2013 9 Erebus Motorsport Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Steven Johnson 20th 160

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 2014 Erebus Motorsport Nico Bastian Bernd Schneider Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG A 291 7th 7th 2016 Erebus Motorsport Austin Cindric Bernd Schneider Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG AP 219 DNF 2017 Scott Taylor Motorsports Craig Baird Shane van Gisbergen Mercedes AMG GT3 AA 283 DNF 2019 Craft-Bamboo Racing Gary Paffett Luca Stolz Mercedes AMG GT3 APP 185 DNF 2020 Craft-Bamboo Racing Yelmer Buurman Luca Stolz Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo Pro 314 5th 5th 2022 Craft-Bamboo Racing Daniel Juncadella Kevin Tse Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo APA 291 2nd 2nd 2023 GruppeM Racing Mikaël Grenier Raffaele Marciello Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo Pro 323 3rd 3rd 2024 GruppeM Racing Felipe Fraga David Reynolds Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo Pro 275 8th 8th 2025 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR Mikaël Grenier Maxime Martin Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo Pro 170 DNF 2026 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR Mikaël Grenier Maxime Martin Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo Pro 2621st1st

Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results

Complete GT World Challenge Europe results GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Season still in progress.

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points 2019 Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HUN1 HUN2 2nd 92.5 2020 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro MIS1 MIS2 MIS3 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 CAT1 CAT2 CAT3 6th 60 2021 Toksport WRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 BRH1 BRH2 VAL1 VAL 2 2nd 95 2024 Winward Racing Team Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 MAG1 MAG2 CAT1 CAT2 1st 107 2025 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 VAL1 VAL2 4th 76.5 2026 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 CAT1 CAT2 5th* 40*

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) † Engel did not complete sufficient laps to score full points. Season still in progress.

Complete Intercontinental GT Challenge results Year Manufacturer Car 1 2 3 4 5 Pos. Points 2016 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 BAT 15th 6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 SPA SEP 2017 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 BAT SPA LGA NC 0 2018 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 BAT SPA SUZ LGA 4th 58 2019 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 BAT LGA SPA SUZ KYA 11th 44 2020 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo BAT IND SPA KYA 11th 20 2021 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo SPA IND KYA NC 0 2022 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo BAT SPA IND ABU 9th 30 2023 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo BAT KYA SPA IND ABU 6th 61 2024 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo BAT NÜR SPA IND 12th 21 2025 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo BAT NÜR SPA SUZ IND 16th 24 2026 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo BAT NÜR SPA SUZ IND 1st* 68* Season still in progress.

Complete FIA Formula E Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Chassis Powertrain 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points 2016–17 Venturi Formula E Team Spark SRT01-e Venturi VM200-FE-02 HKG MRK BUE MEX MCO PAR BER BER NYC NYC MTL MTL 17th 16 2017–18 Venturi Formula E Team Spark SRT01-e Venturi VM200-FE-03 HKG HKG MRK SCL MEX PDE RME PAR BER ZUR NYC NYC 12th 31