The Mercedes-AMG GT4 is the latest addition to the iRacing lineup of GT4 cars. It was released on the platform for Season 3 of 2022 in addition to the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, BMW M4 GT4, McLaren 570S GT4 and Aston Martin Vantage GT4, completing a competitive grassroots GT racing class.
The younger sibling of the globally successful Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which is also featured in iRacing amongst the ever-growing GT3 class, let’s learn more about Affalterbach’s latest GT4 machine.
Introducing the Mercedes-AMG GT4
In the real world, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 participates in several Pro/AM championships including the GT4 European Series, the GT4 America Championship and the British GT Championship.
It is cheaper for teams than the senior GT3 class car as a result of its reduced power and downforce as well as increased weight typical of other GT4 cars compared to their GT3 counterparts, but the Mercedes-AMG GT4 still includes traction control and an anti-lock braking system which is beneficial for all drivers.
Powered by a 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, albeit limited to about 400 horsepower by the GT4 balance of performance rules, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 has the second-largest engine in class behind the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, enjoying competitive straight-line performance. Being front-mounted, the AMG GT4’s powertrain offers multiple advantages, notably aiding a neutral and forgiving balance.
If you want to learn more about how the Mercedes-AMG GT4 stacks up over a lap compared to its GT4 challengers, make sure to check out our guide to the fastest GT4 cars in iRacing.
The Basic Car Characteristics
Given the reduced downforce produced by GT4 cars, achieving good mechanical balance is essential in the Mercedes-AMG GT4. Like other front-engine GT4 cars, it struggles with mid-corner rotation and entry understeer, so you should address these issues with the setup first.
If you’ve ever raced this car in Assetto Corsa Competizione though, then the basics of the setup will be familiar. The Mercedes-AMG GT4 benefits from a high negative front toe (typically, around -1.8 degrees, with some exceptions for high-speed circuits), negative camber (-3.5 degrees or below both front and rear) and soft front spring rates (about 150 N/mm) to enhance grip and reduce understeer.
After that, because of the soft suspension, you generally have to stiffen the bump and rebound dampers by 3-4 clicks to limit the car bouncing after attacking curbs. Additionally, the rear anti-roll bar usually should be stiffer than the front to achieve superior rotation.
In iRacing, you can race the Mercedes-AMG GT4 in 4 championships:
- GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge (single-class sprint)
- Falken Tyre Sports Car Challenge (multiclass sprint with LMP3s)
- IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (multiclass endurance with touring cars)
- Creventic Endurance Series (multiclass endurance with touring cars and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car)
You can find detailed information about these championships below.
Where You Can Race It
D licence
The D licence opens access to the entry-level series for this car, the GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge. This series uses a fixed setup and only GT4 cars, so it is a great starting point for beginners. Everyone is in the same condition, and you do not need to navigate through the multiclass field present in other championships. The competition in this series is also very beginner-friendly, with the average strength of the field rarely exceeding 3,000 iRating.
Five GT4 cars, including the Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, BMW, McLaren and Aston Martin, are available for this championship.
- If you need help getting to grips with the GT4 car, make sure to watch one of our lap guides on the Coach Dave Academy YouTube channel where our team of professional drivers walks you through everything you need to know about each circuit.
The calendar updates weekly throughout the season, offering a 50/50 mix of North American (Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Road America, etc.) and European (Zandvoort, Nurburgring, Jerez, etc.) circuits. Two circuits are a part of the base subscription, and 10 are DLCs, which cost 15.95 USD each.
Key facts about the GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge:
- Individual championship with a fixed setup
- Races appear every 2 hours and last 15 minutes
- Rolling start, single GT4 class (5 cars to choose from)
- All driving aids are allowed
- Up to 30 drivers on the grid
C licence
With the C license, you can race in all remaining official series that use the Mercedes-AMG GT4.
The only choice of sprint races here is the Falken Tyre Sports Car Challenge, which mixes up GT4 cars with Ligier JS P320. The setup is open, and you must manage faster LMP3 traffic well to get the best results. The calendar is the same as in the GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge, so buying tracks for these championships is a good value for money if you are interested in racing GT4 cars.
If you regularly race in the Mercedes-AMG GT4 in this championship and want all the setup work covered, check out Coach Dave Academy’s setup pack tailored for this car and all tracks used in the 2023 Season 3.
Key facts about the Falken Tyre Sports Car Challenge:
- Individual championship with an open setup
- Races appear every 2 hours and last 30 minutes
- Rolling start, multiclass (LMP3 prototype and GT4 cars)
- All driving aids are allowed
- Up to 40 drivers on the grid
The main option for endurance racing with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 is the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. This championship features 2-hour races with GT4 and touring cars sharing the track. Although races are pretty long, this championship has no driver swaps. The calendar includes six circuits; only one is free, and the rest are DLCs. Thankfully, all circuits in this championship are the same as in the GT4 Falken Tyre Challenge.
Key facts about the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge:
- Individual championship with an open setup
- Races start only on the weekends and last 2 hours
- Rolling start, multiclass (GT4 and touring cars)
- All driving aids are allowed
- Up to 40 drivers on the grid
Finally, there is one more special endurance championship called the Creventic Endurance Series. This championship features team-based 12-hour endurance racing with three car classes on track: GT3 Cup Porsche 911, five GT4 and two touring cars. A team must include at least two drivers; the grid can contain as many as 55 team entries. The calendar consists of four races, with only one remaining in 2023: on December 2 at Virginia International Raceway.
Key facts about the Creventic Endurance Series:
- Team championship with an open setup
- Races follow a strict calendar and last 12 hours
- Rolling start, multiclass (GT3 Cup, GT4 and touring cars)
- All driving aids are disallowed
- Up to 55 teams on the grid
Final Thoughts
Like in real racing, GT4 championships in iRacing are designed as a training ground for GT3 sprint and endurance championships. GT4 cars are slower and more forgiving for beginners; races primarily include drivers with 2,000-4,000 iRating, so these cars provide close racing for the early stages of your career in iRacing.
All GT4 cars in iRacing are a part of relatively new content and, therefore, evenly matched by the balance of performance rules. The Mercedes is the most popular GT4 on the platform, both in open and fixed setup championships, and you can’t go wrong choosing this car.
If you are invested in GT4 class racing and need setups for these cars, consider buying access to Coach Dave Academy iRacing Setup Subscription, which currently covers four out of five GT4 cars available in iRacing (BMW, Mercedes, Aston Martin and Porsche). Alongside the free-to-download Coach Dave Delta app, it will massively reduce the time you need to develop and manage setups.
