MANN-FILTER claims Vice-Champion title at GTWC Europe in Barcelona

Ludwigsburg, October 12, 2025 – With high hopes, the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER, led by the driver trio Lucas Auer (31, Austria), Matteo Cairoli (29, Italy), and Maro Engel (40, Germany), traveled to the season final of the GT World Challenge Europe at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. As the championship leaders, the overall title seemed within reach, yet the race would take a different turn.
"We’ve had a very demanding season," said Jürgen Eberhart, Team Manager at WINWARD Racing in the GTWC. "I am incredibly proud of my team for fighting for the championship until the very last race."

Chaotic race and time penalty prevent championship victory

With a combined average lap time of 1:40.473 minutes, the yellow-green trio qualified in sixth place for the final race. They were just about half a second behind the polesitter, clearly establishing themselves as the second-fastest Mercedes on the grid.

On Sunday afternoon, the lights turned green one last time this season, and the race became tumultuous from the start: Several tight situations in the first corner created early unrest in the field. One of those affected was MANN-FILTER Racing driver Maro Engel, who immediately received a time penalty. The infraction was for briefly leaving the track, which the race control punished with a five-second penalty. These additional seconds took their toll, making it almost impossible to realize the dream of winning the championship in the remainder of the race.

Over the next three hours, the team battled on, giving everything to achieve the best possible result. Safety car phases, duels, and strategic pit stops shaped the action. Despite a flawless performance by the entire team and strong stints from all three drivers, the gap to their championship rivals could no longer be closed. After an intense showdown, the MANN-FILTER Mamba with car number #48 crossed the finish line in 13th place. Not enough to claim the championship, but with the vice-champion title secured, the team was able to salvage a measure of success.

"Today’s race was very challenging," summarized Jürgen Eberhart, praising his team: "Nevertheless, we can be very proud of our drivers, engineers, and the entire crew. We learned a lot and will come back even stronger next year."

Yellow-green MANN-FILTER atmosphere in the paddock creates great vibes

Even though the championship slipped away, the event was still a success for MANN-FILTER. Off-track, numerous guests and partners attended, experiencing an exciting race weekend with workshops and engaging discussions.

"A huge thank you goes to the entire WINWARD Racing Team: all drivers, engineers, mechanics, catering, and everyone involved," concluded Filippina Manou, Sponsorship Manager at MANN-FILTER. "Of course, we’re all a little heartbroken that it wasn’t quite enough in the end. But we are grateful for a season where we were able to showcase MANN-FILTER on such a strong platform with great customer engagement all across Europe. Barcelona was another perfect example: a packed guest area, fantastic atmosphere, and lots of yellow and green."