The 2026 edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour was a story of drama and elation of which the latter refers to German Maro Engel.
Engel has had a long career in Australia after being part of Erebus Motorsport’s debut season in 2013 when it entered Mercedes into Supercars racing, but of late he has been one of the manufacturer’s star GT drivers.
A Mercedes-AMG factory driver since 2008, 41-year-old Engel had one score to tick and that was Bathurst.
His first start at Mount Panorama was in a Supercar, racing the underdeveloped Erebus Motorsport Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG to 20th paired alongside experienced co-driver Steven Johnson.
The Bathurst 12 Hour was growing in stature and Erebus Motorsport were the reigning winners when Engel made his debut in the race. In an all-German assault also featuring Nico Bastian and Bernd Schneider, the trio finished seventh in the spectacular SLS AMG GT3.
Not returning in 2015, Engel came back with Erebus the next year alongside Schneider and Austin Cindric for a DNF to start a run of misfortune.
A high profile bust up followed in 2016 when Shane van Gisbergen crashed the Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 late in the race leading to Engel displaying anger by kicking the tyres, storming off and slamming the door on the transporter.
Joining Craft Bamboo Racing for the next three years, netted a best result of fifth in his second year and second in his last with the team in 2022.
Engel has been with GruppeM Racing since 2023 and immediate success followed by finishing third in a line-up featuring long-time co-driver Mikael Grenier.
It was Grenier, Engel tasted success with in 2026 when the now rebranded Mercedes-AMG Team GMR crossed the first as Maxime Martin completed the line-up.
Engel finally tasted the ultimate at Mount Panorama after a 13-year wait and plenty of heartbreak along the journey.