SPS automotive performance with two Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the International GT Open

SPS automotive performance is once again represented in the 2024 International GT Open with two Mercedes-AMG GT3s. The team from Obersulm is relying on continuity in the popular racing series. Mikaeel Pitamber (RSA) and Dominik Baumann (AUT) will be fighting for points in the #20 Mercedes-AMG GT3, as they did last year. Dexter Müller and Yannick Mettler (both SUI) will once again compete in the sister car with starting number 54.

Mikaeel Pitamber and Dominik Baumann finished the 2023 season on a high by winning the finale in Barcelona, while Dexter Müller and Yannick Mettler only narrowly missed out on the podium in the PROAM classification. With this promising quartet, SPS automotive performance will be aiming for the championship title in the international GT series in 2024.

Mikaeel Pitamber made his debut with the team in the International GT Open last year. The South African impressed straight away with impressive performances in this competitive environment and sent a clear signal to his competitors with two race wins. After his promising debut, the 20-year-old will have to continue his positive development and consistently achieve top results. His team-mate for the entire season will be Dominik Baumann. The 31-year-old Austrian can look back on a long and successful career in GT3 racing and is one of the most experienced drivers in the cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT3. He returned to SPS automotive performance at short notice for the 2023 season finale and was successful right away alongside Pitamber. The powerful duo will be on the chase for championship points in the PRO class throughout the year with these excellent prerequisites.

The second Mercedes-AMG GT3 with starting number 54 will compete in the PROAM category under the CBRX x SPS entry. Dexter Müller and Yannick Mettler celebrated a class win and several podium finishes last year and were regularly in the points in the highly competitive PROAM class. After finishing fifth in the championship, the Swiss team is now aiming for a place in the top three of the standings.

SPS automotive performance will take part in the official test days of the International GT Open at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week. The first race weekend will take place on the last weekend of April (26-28 April 2024) at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. The opening race will also mark the 75^th race for the team from Obersulm in the International GT Open.

Mikaeel Pitamber, #20 Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I’m very excited about my second season in the International GT Open. The learning curve was very steep last year. Winning two races  as a rookie was great and motivates me even more. Having such an experienced team-mate like Dominik by my side will be very helpful. I hope that I can learn a lot from him and that we can build on our successes from last year.”

Yannick Mettler, #54 Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I’m really looking forward to competing in the GT Open with Dexter and SPS again. We are now a well-rehearsed team, which has advantages in many respects. This year, we want to attack at the front again, even though the competition will be very strong as always.”

Stephan Sohn, team principal at SPS automotive performance: “We are very happy to be able to field two cars with identical driver pairings in the International GT Open again. In both the PRO and PROAM classes, we have a good chance of having a say in victory. Mikaeel learnt a lot last year and has an experienced team-mate at his side in Dominik. Now, of course, we want to pick up where we left off last year. With Dexter and Yannick, we also have a well-rehearsed team that can compete at the front in their class. Under the right conditions, both line-ups have what it takes to fight for the championship.”

Schedule International GT Open 2024*:

*) subject to change at short notice