Jay Mo Härtling wins inaugural SRO GT Academy and secures place on the 2027 GT World Challenge Europe grid

• Jay Mo Härtling will contest Endurance Cup season in Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by GetSpeed
• SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm celebrates GT2 European Series Pro-Am titles, paving the way for Härtling’s SRO GT Academy victory
• Stefan Wendl: “Jay Mo Härtling has thoroughly deserved this opportunity.”

Jay Mo Härtling (GER) is the inaugural winner of the newly introduced SRO GT Academy classification in the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli. Competing for SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm, Härtling secured three Pro-Am class wins and two further podium finishes over the course of the season at the wheel of the #111 Mercedes-AMG GT2. Together with team-mate David Thilenius (USA) and SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm, he also clinched the Pro-Am drivers’ and teams’ titles. In addition, Härtling won the inaugural SRO GT Academy classification. The SRO development programme was open to all Silver-rated drivers under the age of 30. Points were awarded based on a range of individual performance criteria, including qualifying and average race lap times. The regulations also provided for points deductions for causing incidents and inappropriate conduct away from the track.

GetSpeed and Jay Mo Härtling to contest the Endurance Cup together in 2027

In the SRO GT Academy standings of the GT2 European Series, Jay Mo Härtling – who celebrates his 24th birthday tomorrow – came out on top against seven competitors. His reward is a fully funded entry in the 2027 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. Härtling will contest all five endurance races at the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Team GetSpeed. Led by team principal Adam Osieka, the team has competed in the SRO series since 2019. Across 102 race starts to date, it has recorded four class wins, five overall podium finishes and eleven class podiums. The German team secured its first overall victory last Saturday at the season finale in Portimão, with Ralf Aron (EST), Maximilian Götz and Fabian Schiller (both GER). GetSpeed fielded four Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars at the finale.

Jay Mo Härtling made his debut in an Affalterbach race car on 1 October 2022. Since then, he has contested 124 races, 123 of them with SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm. His only other outing came this year in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), driving for Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL. Härtling has already accumulated experience across 56 race starts in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, completed the 24h Nürburgring three times and won titles in the GT Winter Series and GTC Race. He will make his GT World Challenge debut in 2027.

Five SRO GT Academy winners to compete with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the 24 Hours of Spa

At the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, Jay Mo Härtling will meet four other SRO GT Academy winners. The winners of the respective classifications in the British GT Championship and GT World Challenge America, Asia and Australia will each receive a fully funded drive in the Belgian endurance classic. They will compete together for Team Motopark, also at the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Jarrod Waberski (RSA) earned his place through the British GT Championship, while Ryan Yardley (NZL) secured the SRO GT Academy title in GT World Challenge America. The remaining two places will be decided at the season finales of GT World Challenge Asia at Shanghai International Circuit (30 October – 1 November) and GT World Challenge Australia at Adelaide Parklands Circuit (26 – 29 November).

“We are delighted to support the SRO’s initiative through the launch of the SRO GT Academy, together with our long-standing Customer Racing Team GetSpeed. The programme gives young talents the opportunity to take the next step in their careers and measure themselves against established drivers at the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3. The innovative SRO GT Academy concept, which places an emphasis not only on average lap times but also on fairness and consistency, offers a promising approach to developing young racing talent. As the inaugural SRO GT Academy winner, Jay Mo Härtling has stood out alongside his SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm team through consistently strong performances throughout the season. He has thoroughly deserved this opportunity.”
Stefan Wendl, Head of Customer Racing, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

“I am very proud that GetSpeed has been selected to field the Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry for SRO GT Academy winner Jay Mo Härtling in the 2027 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. Jay Mo has earned this opportunity through his outstanding performances in a highly competitive GT2 European Series. We look forward to working with him as he takes the next step in his career. The SRO GT Academy is a great initiative to develop young talent and create opportunities for their future in motorsport.”
Adam Osieka, GetSpeed Team Principal

“The GT2 European Series season was a real roller coaster, with some great highs and a few challenging weekends. We made a very strong start but also had a few more modest results along the way. Overall, we performed very well. Winning the SRO GT Academy is a huge step forward for me and SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm. I am delighted that the SRO GT Academy gives me the opportunity and I’m really looking forward to proving myself in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe next year.” 
Jay Mo Härtling, SRO GT Academy Champion