Mercedes-AMG presented the first AMG GT3 at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015. The car is powered by a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine — designated M159 — shared with the SLS AMG GT3, rather than the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 found in the road-going AMG GT. Engineers selected the larger, naturally aspirated unit for its proven reliability and user-friendliness in endurance racing contexts. The car's body uses carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer extensively to bring weight below 1,300 kg in compliance with FIA regulations.
In its debut 2016 season, customer teams running the AMG GT3 claimed a 1-2-3-4 finish at the 24 Hours Nurburgring. New Zealand driver Craig Baird gave the car its first competitive victory at the 2016 Australian GT Championship opener at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in March 2016. By June 2019, Mercedes-AMG had sold 130 examples of the first-generation GT3.
An updated version, designated the AMG GT3 EVO, was introduced at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in June 2019 for competition from the 2020 season. The revision brought an automatic data logging and analysis system, an automatic engine start function linked to the in-built air jacks, and new brake and traction control systems. Externally the car received new headlamps and a revised grille design providing improved radiator protection. The front splitter and rear wing were redesigned for faster trackside adjustment.
Crucially, the EVO retained the same 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine as the first-generation car. AMG's engineers explicitly stated that reliability and user-friendliness were the reasons for keeping the larger engine rather than switching to the road car's biturbo unit.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO is a core car in Assetto Corsa Competizione, present from the game's launch period representing SRO GT3 competition. In the simulation the car is associated with a front-mid engine layout producing a characteristic handling balance that places considerable emphasis on front grip. The naturally aspirated V8 delivers power in a linear fashion without the lag characteristics of turbocharged rivals. Drivers using the car in ACC often highlight its strong braking stability and predictable rotation under trail-braking.
Mercedes-AMG confirmed in January 2025 that a second-generation AMG GT3, based on the second-generation C192 platform, was in development with customer debut planned for 2027. The new car would be the first Mercedes race car developed by Affalterbach Racing GmbH, a new wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-AMG created specifically for motorsport programs. The GT3 EVO's eligibility for the FIA World Endurance Championship's LM GT3 class from 2025 also marked Mercedes-Benz's return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1999, when the Mercedes-Benz CLR suffered a series of high-profile accidents.
The AMG GT3 EVO has been fielded across GT World Challenge Europe, ADAC GT Masters, the Super GT GT300 class in Japan, and IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD competition. The Riley Technologies customer program achieved a class win and outright 16th place at the 2017 12 Hours of Sebring.