Mercedes-AMG Team GMR's Bathurst 12 Hour qualifying was marred by a power issue, leaving them with a lowly grid spot for Sunday's race. The #888 entry of Maro Engel, Mikael Grenier, and Maxime Martin struggled in Q1, with Engel watching helplessly as Lucas Auer set the fastest time. Auer, the 2025 pole winner, clocked an impressive 2:02.1713s in the #77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing entry, followed by a 2:01.9715s lap. The highlight of Q1 was the #888's engine issue, which according to Engel, sidelined them. Engel expressed his frustration, stating, 'We would’ve loved to have a go and have a crack.' The team is now faced with an uphill battle, as no one has ever won the 12 Hour from further back than 11th on the grid. Engel remained positive, insisting that the issue will be resolved before the race start at 5:45 am local time on Sunday. He praised the Craft-Bamboo entry's speed, stating, 'It’s good to see Lucas was quick here last year.' Despite their setback, Engel is confident that they will find the solution, saying, 'We’ll find the issue, I have no doubt, we have a strong team, we’ll dust ourselves and be ready for tomorrow.' The top 10 cars will compete for the Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy from 4:15 pm local time on Saturday, leaving Mercedes-AMG Team GMR to regroup and fight for a better position on Sunday.
