by Mercedes-AMG factory riders, along with Raffaele Marciello, won the blue ribbon round of the GT World Challenge European Endurance Cup, beating Iron Lynx Ferrari’s Antonio Fuoco in the five-round series to secure the title.
Juncadella, who, despite withdrawing from the race, was confirmed to be the Intercontinental GT Challenge champion at the Gulf 12 Hours last weekend, will team up again with Gounon in a Proton-operated Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered under the WeatherTech banner.
The duo raced together at this year’s Daytona 24 Hours for WeatherTech and made selected appearances alongside Cooper MacNeil as the Silver-ranked American switched between the team’s Mercedes and Porsche in the GTD Pro and Pro-Am GTD class.
Other Mercedes factory driver, Maro Engel, will join them in endurance races, and MacNeil will join Daytona as part of the reduced-drive program.
In a statement from WeatherTech, it was announced that MacNeil will “take on more management roles with the team throughout the season.”
Gounon said: “We will give our all to bring the WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 to the fore and get a big trophy at the end of the year.
#89 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: Daniel Juncadella
Photo: SRO
“I think our lineup with Dani and Maro is very strong and we will be very good with Cooper on Rolex 24 as well.
“We all complement each other in different areas. We made a really great team. I really enjoy their company and look forward to a great year.”
Juncadella added: “Next year will be one of the most exciting chapters of my career.
“Last year was a last minute call for Daytona and then it turned into a few more fun races with Cooper in the WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3.
“It was surprising to me that I discovered that IMSA is one of the most exciting championships happening worldwide right now.
“It’s great that we’ve managed to get Jules and WeatherTech Racing to manage the entire season for 2023.” Moreover, having Maro in the car for endurance racing and Cooper for the Rolex 24 is the cherry on top.
“We start first with the big race, the Rolex 24. We were competitive last year; Now we have to get him to the finish line.”
Last week, it was announced that Pfaff Motorsports, who won the 2022 GTD Pro championship, will take the field alongside Porsche regulars Klaus Bachler and Patrick Pilet next year, after champion drivers Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell were called up to the 963 LMDh roster.
Bachler and Pilet will be joined by Pfaff’s 2021 GTD champion Laurens Vanthoor for endurance racing when he’s not on duty with the 963.
