Iron Lynx tested their new Mercedes-AMG vehicles at the Qatar 1812 km, the season-opener for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship. Facing challenges, including technical issues that led to retirements, the team used the experience to gather insights for future races. The 6 Hours of Imola is next on their schedule, where they hope for a stronger performance.
Iron Lynx utilized the Qatar 1812 km event as a testing ground for their new Mercedes-AMG machinery as part of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener. The team confronted a difficult debut with their two new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 vehicles, treating the 10-hour race primarily as a test session. This was particularly significant as it marked Mercedes’ debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship, featuring their new torque sensors, previously only used with customer teams at the IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona.
During the race, Christian Reid experienced a technical issue at the start of the third hour, resulting in the rear end of his 61 Mercedes-AMG becoming stuck in a gravel trap. Additionally, the yellow 60 Mercedes faced its own difficulties, requiring a lengthy three-hour repair. Iron Lynx Team Principal Andrea Piccini expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating, “We knew it was going to be a hard challenge, but we were hoping for something better.”
Despite the setbacks, Piccini noted progress, reflecting on the collaborative efforts with Mercedes-AMG over a 10-day period aimed at improving operational and technical aspects. Maxime Martin, co-driver of the 61, remarked on the challenging nature of their first race and the significant lessons learned, emphasizing, “It was big learning curve, and not the easiest weekend, but we had a lot of testing that allowed us to try different things.”
With the 61’s retirement and the 60’s non-classification, Iron Lynx will focus on the upcoming 6 Hours of Imola, scheduled for April 20, which will serve as a home race for the team based in Cesena. The primary objective remains to leverage this initial experience for better performance in future races.
In summary, Iron Lynx faced a tough debut with their new Mercedes-AMG machinery at the Qatar 1812 km, highlighting both challenges and learning opportunities. Technical issues hindered performance but provided valuable insights for future races. The team is determined to capitalize on the lessons learned as they transition to their next event at Imola, aiming for a more competitive showing.
Original Source: www.motorsportweek.com