The GT3 Evo is an updated version of the original AMG GT3, which was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015. The update was designed in line with the design refresh of the Mercedes-AMG GT road car and addressed areas of user-friendliness and reliability for customer teams. Although the road-going GT variants use a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the GT3 Evo retains the M159 6,208 cc naturally aspirated V8 that was also used in the preceding SLS AMG GT3. The engineers cited the existing engine's reliability and user-friendly nature as the primary reasons for its retention rather than adopting the road car's 4.0-litre unit.
The GT3 Evo introduced several changes over the original 2015 GT3:
An automatic data logger and analysis system.
New brake and traction control systems.
A function that automatically starts the engine when the car is lowered from its in-built air jacks.
Updated exterior styling to match the facelifted road car, including new headlamps and a revised grille that also provides better protection for the radiator.
Tweaked front splitter and rear wing geometry to allow faster trackside adjustments.
As with the original GT3, the GT3 Evo makes extensive use of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer to keep weight under 1,300 kg in compliance with FIA regulations.
The GT3 Evo succeeded the original AMG GT3, which had competed in series including the Blancpain Endurance Series, the ADAC GT Masters, and the Super GT GT300 class. In 2016 the original GT3 achieved a 1-2-3-4-and-6 result at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with entries from AKKA ASP, Black Falcon, HTP Motorsport, and Zakspeed. In the 2016 Super GT season, Good Smile Racing with Team UKYO, the number 11 GAINER team, LEON Racing, and Rn-sports adopted the AMG GT3 in preference to the SLS AMG GT3. In North America, Riley Technologies fielded two customer AMG GT3s in the 2017 IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class; one finished third in class at the 24 Hours of Daytona and then won the GTD class at the 2017 12 Hours of Sebring. By June 2019, a total of 130 GT3 units had been sold to customer teams.
The GT3 Evo's eligibility for the FIA World Endurance Championship LM GT3 class from 2025 marks Mercedes-Benz's return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This is the marque's first appearance at Le Mans since 1999, when the Mercedes-Benz CLR was withdrawn following backflip incidents during that race.
In January 2025, Mercedes-AMG confirmed development of a second-generation AMG GT3, stating that track testing was planned for later that year. The new car is based on the second-generation C192 chassis and was revealed on 23 March 2026. It is the first Mercedes race car developed by Affalterbach Racing GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-AMG, and is expected to make its customer debut in 2027.
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