 As part of its launch announcement in February 1999, Mercedes named nine drivers to the team. Retained from the FIA GT programme were Christophe Bouchut, Jean-Marc Gounon, Bernd Schneider, Marcel Tiemann, and Mark Webber. Nick Heidfeld, then a test driver for the McLaren Mercedes Formula One team, was added to the team for his first experience with sports cars. Former Macau Grand Prix winner and All-Japan Formula Three champion Peter Dumbreck also came from an open wheel racing background. Pedro Lamy, 1998 FIA GT2 Champion, was drafted from the Oreca Chrysler team to participate at Le Mans and in the Deutsche Tourewagen Masters for Mercedes, while Franck Lagorce transferred from Nissan's Le Mans squad. Darren Turner, also a test driver for McLaren, served as the team's reserve driver for Le Mans.
