Mercedes-AMG driver lineup for FIA WEC 2026
Iron Lynx announces both Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver lineup for FIA WEC 2026 using numbers 61 and 79.
The opening year in FIA WEC for the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 race cars saw the team make constant progress despite early challenges, coming close to victory with a spectacular finish at Bahrain International Circuit.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2025. Mercedes-AMG made a significant return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025 with customer team Iron Lynx running three cars (#60, #61, #63) in the LMGT3 category, sporting special "Silver Arrow" liveries paying homage to the legendary 1989 Sauber-Mercedes C9 that won the race. These liveries featured iconic silver designs with accents (yellow for #60, white for #61, red for #63) to celebrate Mercedes' comeback after a 26-year absence from the event.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 #61
Martin Berry will return to the #61 car for his second season with the team. The Australian claimed four pole positions and two podium finishes in the team's European Le Mans Series campaign, before capping off the season with second place in the 8-hour FIA WEC finale. With his impressive 2025 run, Berry has risen to the ranks as one of the world's most competitive Bronze-rated drivers.
Maxime Martin will also carry on his role as a Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver. The Belgian has been a driving force behind the team's progress, delivering a thrilling performance to cap off the year.
One of the most successful Silver-rated drivers in the sport, Rui Andrade will be joining the team's roster, and will compete for the first time with the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3. Among his accolades, the 26-year-old from Angola won the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship in LMP2 and the 2025 European Le Mans Series in LMGT3.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2025. Martin Berry with #61 Mercedes-AMG GT3 during Qualifying LMP2-LMGT3 session qualified the only Mercedes for Hyperpole 1 in P9..
Martin Berry, Driver car #61: "Really looking forward to being back with Iron Lynx in 2026. Our Bahrain podium showed we have the pace to fight at the front, and that's exactly what we're coming back to do - fight for the championship. Great to have Rui joining Maxime and me. We built a solid foundation in 2025, now it's about taking the next step."
Rui Andrade, Driver car #61: "I’m very excited to embark on a new journey with Iron Lynx! I’ve competed against them for many years on track and have always respected their professionalism and performance, and I am very happy to finally be racing alongside them. It’s always an honour to race in WEC and at the 24 hours of Le Mans, and to do so with such a great team behind me is a privilege. I can’t wait to get next year started!"
Maxime Martin, Driver car #61: "I'm excited about 2026. The 2025 season has been a challenging one with a new car for the championship and a new manufacturer for me and the team. It was tough, but it all came together with a great ending and P2 in Bahrain. We really improved all season, and it got better and better. I'm really looking forward to being back with Iron Lynx to continue the work we have started and to be able to fight for podiums and be in the game for the championship"
Mercedes-AMG GT3 #79
None of the #60 car driver during 2025 season are part of the new #79 car. The #79 car will feature Italian Johannes Zelger as the Bronze-rated driver (replacing Andrew GILBERT) (GBR) B Lorcan HANAFIN (GBR) S Fran RUEDA (ESP). Hailing from Verona, Zelger has a solid GT experience. He started with the Carrera Cup Italia series, progressing up to the Asian Le Mans Series in 2025. Taking his first steps in the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 in Bahrain, his potential and progress lap after lap left the team thoroughly impressed.
Iron Lynx stalwart Matteo Cressoni will make his FIA WEC return after getting back on track in testing at Bahrain replacing Fran Rueda. The Italian, a former F3 Champion, has a wealth of FIA WEC experience and made his first start in the series in 2014. Dutchman Lin Hodenius will also be returning to the Iron Lynx ranks after his first season in GT racing, where he established himself as a highly promising and professional prospect. He switches from #61 to #79 replacing Lorcan Hanafin (who was the silver driver in #60).
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring. #60 Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Andrew GILBERT, Lorcan HANAFIN and Fran RUEDA.
Johannes Zelger, Driver car #79: "Honestly, I’m quite astonished thinking that I began my racing career only four years ago in 2021, and it’s incredible to be about to begin my first season in the world's top endurance championship. I really can’t wait to jump in the car in Qatar! The decision to commit to the team and the project was very easy to take: the vibes were great straight away. My goal is to grow step by step with the help of my teammates Matteo and Lin and to improve the pace to reach some good results as the season progresses."
Matteo Cressoni, Driver car#79: "I'm very happy to continue in the family. I have been competing with Iron Lynx since the very beginning, but it will also be a new challenge with new teammates. I'm happy to partner with Johannes. I know him since his very first steps in racing, and we are great friends, plus he's quick and really promising. I'm looking forward to racing with Lin, who's a young, fast and reliable driver. We have everything we need to make steady progress, and we hope to deliver some good surprises throughout the year!"
Lin Hodenius, Driver car #79: "Happy to race with Iron Lynx again for the 2026 season. It was an interesting year in 2025, and I think it went quite well, with many nice moments and a team that is great to work with. It was tough, but it was also the first year for the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 in FIA WEC. I think we will be quite up to pace for the 2026 season. Let's see what we will be able to achieve together.” Source: Iron Lynx
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2025. Three Mercedes-AMG GT3 (#60, #61, #63) in the LMGT3 category, sporting special "Silver Arrow" liveries.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Luca Stolz shared the #63 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Grove father and son.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2025. #61 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Sunday morning.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Austin (left), Fuji (center), Spa-Francorchamps (right). #61 Mercedes-AMG GT3
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