Mercedes-AMG’s new GT4 challenger is set for an end-of-year debut, ahead of a full customer rollout in 2018, according to AMG Chairman Tobias Moers.

Moers confirmed the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8-powered car, based on the track-ready Mercedes-AMG GT R, will initially take part in selected VLN races later this year.

“We’ll bring it to the track this year, in the second half, in some test races in Germany, for sure VLN and let’s see what else,” Moers told Sportscar365.

“We’re going to start to sell it and bring it it the market in 2018.”

No timeline, meanwhile, has been established for its U.S. debut, either in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge or Pirelli World Challenge.

However, Moers said technical support will come from Multimatic once it does arrive Stateside.

“We’ve not finally discussed when we’ll be able to bring it to the U.S.,” he said. “Because if you have a lot of demand in Europe, you have to figure out what’s priority and how we can fulfill the demands.

“We do have a much higher-than-expected [level] of interest out of the U.S. for the GT4.

The SRO GT4-spec car, which was confirmed at the AMG’s end-of-season awards dinner in Stuttgart in December, will become the third customer-based GT race car from the German manufacturer, following the SLS AMG GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT3, which debuted in 2015.

Moers said he sees long-term potential in the emerging platform, which has recently seen announced cars also from McLaren, BMW, Ford and soon-to-be Audi and Chevrolet.

“Absolutely. I think a GT3 car needs professional teams, a good combination of really good am drivers and pro drivers,” he said. “Cost-wise, it was always expensive to race.

“I think GT4 will be the new GT3.”