Mertz Racing Technologies

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Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Subaru MRT
MRT.PNG
Founded 7 July 2012
Base Lowell, IN
Principal Josh Mertz
Founder(s) Josh Mertz
Current Series NASA RallyCross Challenge
NASA SuperTrucks
Former Drivers Flag of the United States.svg Adam Simons
Flag of the United States.svg Adam Sweet
Flag of the United States.svg Austin Hakes
Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann
Flag of Argentina.svg Dako
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Rada
Flag of the United States.svg Tim Johnston
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein
Current Drivers 1. Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz
2. Flag of Canada.svg Philip Kraus
Current Tyres B Bridgestone
Website MRTrx.com
Debut 2012A British RX GP
Latest Entry 2019A Atlanta RX GP
Races Entered 145
Race Victories 66
Driver Titles 10 (2012B, 2013C, 2014B, 2015A, 2016A, 2017A, 2017C, 2018A, 2018B, 2018C)
Team Titles 10 (2012B, 2013C, 2014B, 2016A, 2017A, 2017B, 2017C, 2018A, 2018B, 2018C)
Folded N/A



Mertz Racing Technologies is an American racing team, currently racing under an Austrian license. They are the 2012B, 2013C, 2014B, 2016A and 2017A, 2017B, 2017C, 2018A, 2018B, and 2018C Constructors Champions, and the 2012A, 2012C, 2013A, 2013B, 2014A and 2015A runners up. Currently, Josh Mertz and Subaru have a deal to brand MRT as Subaru MRT.

History

2012A

Josh Mertz, the MRT team owner, purchased a Citroën Xsara from the Citroën World Rally Team in preparation for the NASA RallyCross Challenge. He started the season well with a heat win and a second place in Croft. In Island Rally, he ended up spinning in his heat and barely missed the podium, an accident with Elliot Porterfield in Turn One ruined his chances at victory. Later on in the lap, a collision with Brandon Lambert broke the steering arm on the car, and without factory support for his Citroën, the car was unusable. He was later offered a works team with Subaru, which he held until the end of 2012B. In Negus, now with works support from Subaru, it gave Mertz the resources to run two cars. Newcomer Cody Erdmann finished P2 on debut for the team, testing the new Subaru Impreza WRX STi prototype car. In Riverside, MRT had found themselves with enough works support to run five cars - Mertz, Erdmann, Adam Simons (who left rivals Revolution Racing), Adam Sweet, and Dako. Riverside didn't go as planned. Mertz slid off while battling with Dylan Livengood for the heat win, in a cruel twist of fate Simons went on to win the heat. In the LCQ, Mertz was once again pushed off the track by Livengood, and later crashed into Adam Sweet, ending both of their races. In the final, Adam Simons and Dako destroyed two of the works Subaru Imprezas in spectacular fashion, with Dako barrel rolling down the track. The only hope was Cody Erdmann, but a late spin made him lose the lead to John Quinn. The team downsized to one car for Mertz in Canada, and pouring all the resources into the #81 paid off - he comfortably dominated the event. MRT later expanded to a full programme for Cody Erdmann, making him a permanent fixture to the team. In Valkenswaard, Mertz was able to get to P3, while Erdmann had to get reacclimatized with the older model Subaru, and finished P10.

Subaru MRT Junior
250px
Nationality 22px Austrian
Current Drivers
Past Drivers Flag of the United States.svg Austin Hakes
Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann
Flag of Germany.svg Dylan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Jacob Krause
Flag of the United States.svg Sean Whitehill
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein
Flag of the United States.svg Xander Clements
Championships 1 (Private Team 2014B)
Wins 1
Podiums 6
First Race 2012B Round of Croft
First Win 2012B Round of the North Proving Grounds
Last Win 2012B Round of the North Proving Grounds
Last Race 2015A Round of Negus
NASA RallyCross Team



2012B

With a full programme set for MRT for Mertz and Erdmann, Subaru notified Mertz of two works cars still available. MRT hired Simons to drive one of the cars for the new MRT Junior Team, because due to the regulations only 2 cars were allowed per team. The fourth car was left for any interested parties. Mertz started the season with a bang, proving the works support helped by winning the Round of Croft for the first time. Erdmann, who was switched back to the newer Subaru, had trouble in the final. Simons had trouble all season getting acclimatized to the car, only finishing P2 in Los Angeles. The Subarus never faltered all season, by Mertz getting four wins, Erdmann one, and recruit Dylan Smith one. Mertz, MRT and Subaru comfortably won the titles - but not after Adam Simons refused to follow team orders and let Josh Mertz by in the LCQ at the south proving grounds. They made contact on the final lap for the final transfer spot, and Simons was disqualified. In rage, Simons immediately went to his hauler, ripped the MRT overalls off, and left the circuit, never to drive for MRT again.

2012C

After the controversy of the South Proving Grounds, Adam Simons left the now rebadged Citroën Junior Team. Mertz brought in new recruit Dylan Smith, while himself and Cody Erdmann inherited the numbers of one and two due to the 2012B triumph. Mertz defended his title in style at Croft with a heat win and a convincing victory, proving his title was no fluke. Cody Erdmann then announced his indefinite hiatus from the sport, and Dylan Smith was promoted to the second senior car, and the Junior team was parked. Cody returned to the sport at Charlotte and proved that he needed a break by winning the second race for Citroën. In the North Proving Grounds, the Citroën team quickly were snapped back to reality when Josh Mertz spun out of the lead. Cody Erdmann also spun in the first corner a lap later. At the South Proving Grounds, everything was back to normal until Andrew Fessler contacted Mertz and sent the #1 into a terrifying tumble on the dirt, right hand double apex corner. Surprisingly, Junior Driver Xander Clements was able to sneak a victory in for the manufacturer, tightening their grip on that championship. At Negus, the Citroën senior team had their worst final ever, with Cody crashing into the tire barrier on the first lap. A few moments later, Mertz crashed with Dylan Livengood and was forced to park the car. Again, Xander Clements went on to win the race. In turn, despite the fact the Drivers' and Works Constructors' titles were out of reach, Citroën mechanics still celebrated (albeit a muted celebration) the Manufacturers' Championship.

2013A

Amidst the defeat for the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, the Citroën teams looked to bounce back and take the titles. However, personal troubles with both drivers prevented them from completing all 3 rounds, and along with the controversy with Xander Clements, it left the team in hot water. Third and Fourth for Mertz, while Erdmann faired a bit better, with a second and a first place finish.

2013B

2013B was a disappointing season for the team. A distant second in the Constructors' Championship, the season was hampered by Mertz having issues in every race, and the team withdrawing from the sixth round in Bent Twig. The only successful moment was the win in Canada for Erdmann, but it was overshadowed by the loss of the 1-2 finish due to Mertz's penalty.


2013C

Citroën reinstated their factory teams for 2013C, looking towards the title. The results were there, however relations between the French organization and Josh Mertz faltered after the fourth round of the championship in Charlotte. Frustrated, Mertz resigned the team to Subaru. A third place for Erdmann in Talladega was the start. However, the confirmation that the Subaru contract was a good idea was the two consecutive 1-2 finishes, in Negus and Riverside. MRT tightened their grip on the Works' Constructors Championship, along with clinching the Semi-Works Championship in Negus. The luck ran out for the team in Bent Twig, as Mertz and Erdmann came together while battling mid pack and had to settle for fifth and sixth. Mertz reclaimed his authority on the St. Eustache circuit with a win, but not after a half spin and contact with his teammate Erdmann. The teams second Constructors' Championship was sealed with a second place finish for Mertz at Irwindale, while a late penalty reversal call cost Cody Erdmann a chance at the Drivers' Title.

2014A

Mertz and Erdmann will inherit cars 1 and 2 for the 2014A season, for the first time since 2012C. After a few tough races, the team thought they broke through with their first victory of the season at St. Eustache - but Josh Mertz was penalized and put to third for contact with Brandon Lambert. Afterwards, Mertz was suspended for the race in Long Island, due to a verbal altercation in race control with official Dylan Livengood. However, The Team kept the 21 points for the win, as did Subaru in the manufacturers championship. Mertz and Livengood were once again involved in an altercation in Talladega, which Mertz was temporarily suspended for the following race in Negus after intentionally wrecking Livengood. After Mertz admitted to intentionally wrecking Car #51, the suspension was lifted, but Mertz still withdrew from Negus. The following week in Riverside, Car #1 returned - however, an engine failure in the opening minutes of practice forced another withdrawal, and after that, Car #1 did not appear for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, while his teammate was having issues, new recruit Tristan Hagenstein recorded five consecutive podiums, which reset the previous record of two.

2014B

Having to cede the numbers 1 and 2 to Revolution Racing once again, Mertz and Erdmann began again in the ever familiar #81 and #82 Subarus. Tristan Hagenstein, coming off of a personal best season, resigned with the team, and drove the #83 Subaru. In Croft, Mertz was fastest in the first ever seeding round by three tenths of a second, and won his heat and the race. Erdmann and Hagenstein transferred to the final with a second in the heat and LCQ, respectively, and subsequently encountered issues in the final. Mertz's win broke the 13 race winless streak for the team, the longest ever. The season resulted in MRT scoring seven victories, three for Mertz, in Croft, Negus, and Irwindale, with Erdmann having four, Island Rally, Munich, St. Eustache, and Riverside. The pair finished one-two three times, with Erdmann also leading Junior driver Hagenstein home in Germany. As a result, MRT locked up their third Constructors' championship a race early in Riverside, with Mertz edging Erdmann for the drivers' title by two points.

2015A

Cody Erdmann made headlines before Irwindale, announcing his departure from the only home he has had in NASA RallyCross, before a potential retirement after 2015A. As a result, Tristan Hagenstein moves into the second MRT Subaru, with MRT Junior suspending operations. The team inherits numbers 1 and 2 for a third season. Mertz won and finished second in the first three races of the season, and while he missed the final in the Proving Grounds, two second place finishes sealed his fourth Drivers' Championship and second in a row. Erdmann returned for Negus and for Las Vegas, where the German appeared on the podium in 3rd in the latter.

2015B

Despite the shock switch of Mertz teaming with Livengood at Aftershock, MRT will still see the tenth season of competition. Steve Rada and Tim Johnston have been drafted in by Mertz to fill the seats. Both newcomers struggled to adapt to the Subaru Impreza, and Tristan Hagenstein finished on the podium in 3 of the 4 events.

2016A

After the long break, Rada and Johnston were dropped by MRT. Returning to the squad was Josh Mertz, after a half season at Aftershock, and Cody Erdmann, after a sabbatical from the sport.

Complete NASA RallyCross Challenge Career

MRT

(key) (Races in bold indicate winner of their heat; Races in italics indicate the driver transferred through via the LCQ)

Year Chassis No. Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points WCC Points
2012A Subaru Impreza 08 Flag of the United States.svg Adam Simons RVR
9
CAN
9
10th‡ 34‡ - -
48 Flag of the United States.svg Adam Sweet RVR
16
28th 1 - -
Citroën Xsara 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
2
ISR
4
2nd 86 2nd 129
Subaru Impreza NEG
3
RVR
15
CAN
1
NED
3
85 Flag of Argentina.svg Dako RVR
10
CAN
10
16th 14 - -
524 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann NEG
2
RVR
2
NED
10
9th 40 2nd 129
2012B Subaru Impreza 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
1
NED
3
CHA
9
CAN
1
NEG
1
LA
5
PVGN
5
PVGS
1
1st 131 1st 231
524 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann GBR
7
NEG
6
CHA
1
CAN
4
NEG
8
LA
3
PVGN
8
PVGS
6
4th 100
2012C Citroën Xsara 1 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
1
NED
3
GER
4
CHA
6
CAN
1
PVGN
4
PVGS
7
NEG
10
2nd 112 2nd 203
2 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann GBR
5
CHA
1
CAN
2
PVGN
6
PVGS
12
NEG
9
7th 75
Flag of Germany.svg Dylan Smith NED
4
GER
13
8th‡ 69‡
2013A Citroën Xsara 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
3
NED
4
GER
DNS
4th 35 2nd 73
524 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann GBR
DNS
NED
1
GER
2
2nd 38
2013B Citroën Xsara 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
2
4th 66 2nd 109
Citroën C4 WRC NED
2
CHA
7
CAN
8
NEG
8
BTW
WD
Citroën Xsara 82 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann GBR
DNS
11th 36
Citroën C4 WRC NED
4
CAN
1
NEG
DNS
BTW
WD
Flag of the United States.svg Austin Hakes CHA
10
14th‡ 27‡
2013C Citroën C4 RX 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
3
NED
5
ISR
2
CHA
6
1st 160 1st 301
Subaru Impreza WRX STi TAL
7
NEG
1
RVR
2
BTW
5
CAN
1
IRW
2
Citroën C4 RX 82 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann GBR
4
NED
3
ISR
3
CHA
7
3rd 141
Subaru Impreza WRX STi TAL
3
NEG
2
RVR
1
BTW
6
CAN
5
IRW
7
2014A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
5
NED
10
ESP
5
CAN
3
ISR
SUS
TAL
8

RVR
DNS


8th 68 2nd 260
2 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann
NED
2


ISR
7

NEG
2
RVR
6
IRW1
DNS
IRW2
DNS
7th 74
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein GBR
3

ESP
14
CAN
5

TAL
3




3rd‡ 132‡
3 Flag of the United States.svg Luke Fleming



ISR
4





10th‡ 64‡
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein





NEG
3
RVR
2
IRW1
3
IRW2
3
3rd‡ 132‡
2014B Subaru Impreza WRX STi 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
1
NED
2
ISR
4
GER
5
CAN
2
TAL
3
NEG
1
BTW
2
RVR
2
IRW
1
1st 173 1st 344
82 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann GBR
4
NED
6
ISR
1
GER
1
CAN
1
TAL
2
NEG
3
BTW
4
RVR
1
IRW
2
2nd 171
2015A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
1
NED
2
ISR
1
CAN
4
PVGS
9
NEG
2
LV
2



1st 117 1st 218
2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein GBR
7
NED
5
ISR
3
CAN
6
PVGS
4
NEG
4




6th 62
Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann





LV
3



9th‡ 47‡
2015B Subaru Impreza WRX STi 27 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein GBR
3B
NED
DNS
ISR
3B
TAL
3A






4th 55 4th 75
38 Flag of the United States.svg Tim Johnston GBR
7
NED
8






12th 19
199 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Rada GBR
12
NED
9
ISR
DNS






11th 21
2016A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz NED
51
GER
6LCQ
ESP
72
CAN
11
NEG
12
PVGN
3A
ASP
11
BTW
1B
RVR
31
LV
8A
2nd 273 1st 595
82 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann NED
1A
GER
21
ESP
11
CAN
4LCQ
NEG
21
PVGN
11
ASP
43
BTW
51
RVR
2A
LV
1
1st 298
83 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein NED
4B
GER
52
ESP
4B
CAN
5A
NEG
5A
PVGN
5LCQ
ASP
4A
BTW
6A
RVR
1
LV
4
4th 254
2017A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann NED
51
GER
2A
ESP
4LCQ
WAT
1A
ISR
2LCQ
CAN
21
PVGS
32
NEG
1A
JPN
2
BTW
42
1st 289 1st 583
2 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz NED
1A
GER
4LCQ
ESP
1A
WAT
8
ISR
6B
CAN
1A
PVGS
21
NEG
32
JPN
52
BTW
1A
2nd 277
3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein NED
3B
GER
6B
ESP
51
WAT
5B
ISR
4A
CAN
DNS
PVGS
4
NEG
4
JPN
10
BTW
3B
6th 230
2017B Subaru Impreza WRX STi 51 Flag of Canada.svg Dylan Livengood GBR
5LCQN1
NED
4LCQ
CAN
4
MIL
5B
IND
4B
AUS
6
NEG
52
PVGN
4LCQ
SEA
5LCQ
BTW
5LCQ
4th 127 1st 583
81 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
11
NED
3A
CAN
61
MIL
31
IND
3LCQ
AUS
11
PVGN
2A
NEG
2A
SEA
22N6
BTW
61
3rd 173
2017C Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Canada.svg Philip Kraus NED
2A
CAN
21
MIL
11
PVGS
11
NEG
2A
PVGN
32
IRW
22
SEA
22
BTW
32
GBR
2A
2nd 189 1st 386
2 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz NED
31
CAN
1B
MIL
32
PVGS
3A
NEG
11
PVGN
11
IRW
3A
SEA
11
BTW
2
GBR
11
1st 192
2018A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz GBR
21
NED
3A
CAN
11
MIL
4LCQ
NEG
2A
ASP
1A
PVGN
22
DAY
1B
SEA
42
BTW
1H1-1
2nd 186 1st 382
2 Flag of Canada.svg Philip Kraus GBR
12
NED
2
CAN
2A
MIL
32
NEG
11
ASP
2B
PVGN
11
DAY
31
SEA
11
BTW
2H2-1
1st 192
2018B Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Canada.svg Philip Kraus DAY1
42
PHX
11
SNM
4LCQ
DAY2
11
NHMS
11
LRP
22
SMP
2
IND
9
TEX
11
IOW
3
2nd 139 1st 343
2 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz DAY1
73
PHX
5
SNM
11
DAY2
2LCQ
NHMS
11
LRP
5
SMP
11
IND
22
TEX
4
IOW
43
1st 160
2018C Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz SNM
3H4-2
PHX
5H3-1
TEX
2H2-1
DAY
7H1-2
ATL1
7H2-2
ATL2
4
LRP
3H2-2
SMP
6H1-2
IND
5LCQ
IOW
4H3-2
2nd 138 1st 325
2 Flag of Canada.svg Philip Kraus SNM
7H3-2
PHX
3LCQ
TEX
1H1-1
DAY
3H1-1
ATL1
2H2-1
ATL2
1H2-1
LRP
1H1-1
SMP
1H1-1
IND
2H1-1
IOW
2H1-1
1st 188
2019A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1 Flag of Canada.svg Philip Kraus SNM
3H1-1
PHX
1H1-1
DAY
1H2-1
ATL
7
1st 71 1st 125
2 Flag of Germany.svg Josh Mertz SNM
5
PHX
7H2-1
DAY
6
ATL
2H2-1
4th 53
Year Chassis No. Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points WCC Points

† Season In Progress
‡ Points total includes points scored for other teams. 1 Car #1 received full points for first in all Championships except for Drivers.

MRT Junior

(key) (Races in bold indicate winner of their heat; Races in italics indicate the driver transferred through via the LCQ)

Year Chassis No. Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points WCC Points
2012B Subaru Impreza 6 Flag of Germany.svg Dylan Smith CAN
3
NEG
7
LA
10
'PVGN
1
PVGS
4
6th‡ 93‡ 3rd 118
08 Flag of Australia.svg Adam Simons GBR
10
NED
8
CHA
8
CAN
10
NEG
10
LA
2
PVGN
9
PVGS
7
8th 75
2012C Citroën Xsara 6 Flag of Germany.svg Dylan Smith GBR
3
CHA
10
CAN
10
PVGN
8
PVGS
7
NEG
16
8th‡ 69‡ 3rd 105
36 Flag of the United States.svg Xander Clements CAN
4
PVGS
EX
NEG
EX
6th‡ 80‡
2013A Citroën Xsara 6 Flag of Germany.svg Dylan Smith GBR
9
NED
10
12th 15 EX 0 (31)
36 Flag of the United States.svg Xander Clements GBR
EX
NED
EX
EX 0
2013B Citroën C4 WRC 21 Flag of the United States.svg Austin Hakes CAN
9
BTW
WD
14th‡ 27‡ 7th 19
Flag of Germany.svg Cody Erdmann CHA
DNS
11th‡ 36‡
95 Flag of the United States.svg Sean Whitehill CHA
14
CAN
13
NEG
13
BTW
WD
18th 11
2013C Citroën C4 RX 83 Flag of the United States.svg Jacob Krause GBR
7
NED
DSQ
ISR
18
CHA
10
11th† 29† 4th 143
Subaru Impreza WRX STi TAL
PO
NEG
DSQ
Flag of Germany.svg Dylan Smith RVR
6
BTW
7
CAN
6
IRW
4
11th‡ 57‡
Citroën C4 RX 84 Flag of the United States.svg Luke Fleming GBR
5
NED
6
ISR
11
CHA
12
8th 68
Subaru Impreza WRX STi TAL
5
NEG
10
RVR
11
BTW
9


2014A Subaru Impreza WRX STi 83 Flag of the United States.svg Luke Fleming GBR
2
NED
4
ESP
8
CAN
6






10th‡ 64‡ 5th 103
84 Flag of the United States.svg Adam Simons GBR
8

ESP
6







16th‡ 28‡
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein NED
5
ISR
6
3rd‡ 132‡
Year Chassis No. Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points PC Points
2014B Subaru Impreza WRX STi 83 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tristan Hagenstein GBR
6
NED
4
ISR
PO
GER
2
CAN
4
TAL
10
NEG
6
BTW
8
RVR
4
IRW
6
6th 113 1st 163
Year Chassis No. Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points WCC Points

† Season In Progress
‡ Points total includes points scored for other teams.