In under three seasons, Maro Engel and Lucas Auer have established themselves as one of the most effective pairings on the GT World Challenge (GTWC) grid. Their collaboration began in 2024 at Winward Racing, where the two friends immediately demonstrated their compatibility on track. Competing in the iconic Mann-Filter ‘Mamba’ livery, the Mercedes-AMG factory drivers claimed the Sprint Cup crown before clinching the GT World Challenge drivers’ title following a dramatic finale in Jeddah.
After narrowly missing out on all three titles last year, the pair entered 2026 with renewed focus. Their early-season form has been impressive, with both drivers leading the overall standings after two rounds. Observers have noted that their effectiveness stems not only from skill but from mutual understanding and shared philosophy.
“We have a pretty similar working attitude and philosophy,” Auer said to GTWC Europe. “It’s the same with Winward: we really have a lot of fun, but also we work hard and we all focus in the same direction.”
Engel echoed this sentiment, reflecting on their longstanding friendship and professional relationship.
“We’ve known each other for many years, and we always got on well. When we started sharing a car, it felt like we’d been working together for a long time already. Like Luggi says, we share a similar work ethic. We push each other and have a healthy competitive spirit, while also having fun, good laughs, and just enjoying racing together. I think that’s one of the secrets of our success.”
Complementary driving styles a key feature of success for Auer and Engel in GTWC Europe
Part of the pair’s on-track success can be attributed to how closely their driving styles align, making car setup more straightforward. Engel highlighted the advantage of this compatibility with a touch of humour, saying, “I set it up, he has to deal with it!”
Auer noted that the similarity in their driving styles helps maintain consistent performance across both drivers. “I think we are very similar,” he said. “So normally, when Maro feels confident and I jump in the car, I know it suits me very well. Everybody has his own little specific things, but we are very similar in driving style.”
Engel elaborated on the technical benefits of their shared approach. “Sometimes two drivers have different styles and it’s more of a challenge to find a setup with which both feel confident and happy. So it’s obviously one of the benefits when I share the car with Luggi. Let’s just say one driver is a late breaker who focuses on entry speed, and the other brakes early and focuses on the exit. That’s going to generate a different car balance, and the drivers will want different things. If you have two drivers who are very similar, they naturally feel and require similar things. In modern-day GT racing, that’s one of the important keys for success.”
Integrating a new teammate
For the Endurance Cup this season, Engel and Auer have been joined by Luca Stolz, replacing Matteo Cairoli. The addition of Stolz has strengthened the trio, drawing on past collaborations and AMG experience.
Engel described the integration as seamless, saying, “He’s obviously a great driver, someone I’ve shared the car with a lot, so it’s pretty much been a plug and play. He’s jumped in and been super fast. In terms of feedback, the three of us are very similar and we get on very well outside the car.”
Auer highlighted the depth of his long-term relationship with Stolz, which dates back to their early karting days. “The first time I met Luca, I think I was eight years old, racing Bambini karts in Germany. So we’ve known each other for a very long time and he’s a great fit with our team. He’s a really good person and a great addition to our endurance project,” he said.
Strong start to the 2026 GTWC Europe season for Engel and Auer
The trio came close to perfection at the opening Endurance Cup round at Circuit Paul Ricard. The #48 Mercedes-AMG secured pole position and controlled much of the six-hour race before a late safety car allowed a rival Aston Martin to take the win in the final ten minutes.
Auer reflected on the performance, emphasising the importance of consistency over a single victory.
“In a championship like this, it’s always nice to win, but you need consistency. In general, it was an amazing day because the setup we achieved for Saturday was really good; the quality of the performance was really good. It was the first time we were sharing with Luca and we also have a couple of new team members, so I thought it was very impressive. Okay, it hurt to lose out right at the end for the race win, but it was still a great day. In the end, I guess the Aston Martin had better pace and they deserved it. I look at the bigger picture, and it was actually a great race for us.”
The duo also achieved a Race 2 podium at Brands Hatch during the Sprint Cup, putting them in the lead of the GT World Challenge drivers’ standings and demonstrating that early-season momentum could be critical in the championship race.
Looking ahead to Monza
The next major test for the Winward team is Monza, where Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter celebrated an Endurance victory in 2025. Both Engel and Auer acknowledge the challenge posed by such a competitive field.
“Monza is just one of those iconic tracks,” Engel said. “I’d had some near misses there and it’s really hard to win any race in this championship, so to do it there together with Luggi and Matteo was very special. That was the highlight of our Endurance season.”
Auer noted the historic nature of the circuit. “It’s one of the old-style tracks, like Brands Hatch or Zandvoort. Last year was a mega weekend, a very special feeling. As for this year, the competition is so tough that you can never say for sure. We have to wait and see.”
Given their combination of skill, experience, and team synergy, the #48 Mercedes-AMG is expected to remain a front-runner throughout the season, continuing Engel and Auer’s remarkable run in GT World Challenge.
