MANN-FILTER looks back on an eventful year of motorsport

Ludwigsburg, January 4th, 2024. With the season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi and the FIA GT World Cup in Macau, MANN-FILTER concluded another exciting motorsport season that had presented the team with a wide range of challenges. One highlight of the year was undoubtedly the debut at the highly professional and internationally well-known DTM racing series. In collaboration with trusted partner Landgraf Motorsport and renowned Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Maro Engel (37, Germany), the MANN-FILTER Mamba became the fan favorite.

The debut season started promisingly. Maro Engel claimed the first victory in the third race at Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Hopes for the first half of the season were high, but the balance of performance (BoP) and some setbacks hit the team hard. MANN-FILTER driver Maro Engel reflects: "There were some highs and lows this year. The win at Zandvoort was definitely a high! Unfortunately, however, we were also often hit hard by disappointment, especially with our double loss at the two Sachsenring races. There are many things we could have done better or where we would simply have liked a second chance. We've learned a lot and will make sure we come back stronger next season and keep improving." 

Every year, the DTM attracts huge numbers of spectators to the race track, and the media presence due to the broadcast on Pro7, a German free-to-air TV service, also played a major part in the positive perception of MANN-FILTER’s involvement. On average, 350,000 viewers followed the races on television—this was a market share of 5.2 percent.

Wide-ranging motorsport involvement in the IGTC and the Truck GP

In addition to the focus on the main program at the DTM, MANN-FILTER had a wide-ranging presence in other areas of motorsport in 2023. The International GT Challenge (IGTC) presented the team with a number of challenges. The premium filtration brand successfully used the international events for its customer programs and increased its media presence through the broadcasts shown on various local television stations and their viewing figures. MANN-FILTER and its partner GruppeM Racing made the series shine yellow and green both online and offline with multiple pole positions and the race victory at the final race in Abu Dhabi.

The Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring attracted 130,000 spectators to the race track. The showdown of trucks with over 1,000 hp provided the ideal platform to showcase the commercial vehicle segment. As in the other series, the rear of the Tankpool24 Racing Team from FAAS Motorsport, who used a Scania racing truck, was given the already established yellow-green design.

Incredible fan base in Macau and moving farewell moments

MANN-FILTER fans will probably remember last year’s final race weekend in particular. At the final spectacle of the GT World Cup in Macau, the Mamba once again took part with Raffaele Marciello at the wheel. That weekend was his last race as a Mercedes-AMG Performance driver. Emotions were running high and the many spectators on site, together with the farewell to 'Lello', created a number of goosebump moments.

“It was a strange feeling to fly to Macau knowing that it would be my last weekend for AMG,” Raffaele reflects. "The race in Macau will always have a special place in my heart and it was great to be able to experience this last moment together with Landgraf and MANN-FILTER. Both have had a significant influence on my career in recent years and I have enjoyed many a great moment. See you back on the race track!"