Mercedes-AMG has just unveiled its newest addition to the already impressive lineup of high-performance vehicles: the AMG EXPERIENCE program. This program is designed to provide customers and enthusiasts with an exclusive opportunity to experience the power and performance of AMG’s latest models in a thrilling and safe environment. The AMG EXPERIENCE program offers a range of racetrack experiences and brand events at various locations around the world, including iconic tracks such as the Nurburgring and Circuit of the Americas.

The new AMG EXPERIENCE programme: Exclusive racetrack experiences and brand events

This program is the ultimate dream for racing enthusiasts and car aficionados. Participants will have the chance to get behind the wheel of some of the most powerful and dynamic AMG vehicles ever created, all while under the expert guidance of professional instructors. The program offers customized driving programs, giving participants the opportunity to improve their driving skills and experience the thrill of high-speed driving on the track.

But the AMG EXPERIENCE program is not just about driving. It’s also a chance to network with other like-minded individuals who share a passion for high-performance cars. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice driver, the program is designed to meet the needs of all participants and provide an unforgettable experience.

As part of Mercedes-AMG’s ongoing efforts to engage with its customers and build a community around the brand, the AMG EXPERIENCE program promises to deliver a truly immersive experience that showcases the very best of what AMG has to offer. So, if you’re looking to take your driving skills to the next level and experience the thrill of high-performance driving, then the AMG EXPERIENCE program is the perfect opportunity for you. Sign up now and join the exclusive club of AMG drivers!

The new AMG EXPERIENCE programme: Exclusive racetrack experiences and brand events

Press Release

March 3, 2023 – Affalterbach

Interested customers and fans of the performance and sports car brand Mercedes‑AMG have the opportunity from April to October 2023 to hone their driving skills through the AMG RACETRACK EXPERIENCE and AMG LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE. With professional instructors, participants experience the driving dynamics and performance of the latest Mercedes-AMG models for themselves. On renowned racetracks and serpentine roads they will master the safe and skilful handling of these high-performance cars and learn about the technology that powers them.

From Tuscany and South Tyrol to renowned Formula 1™ courses or a trip back in time to explore the heritage of the Mercedes-AMG brand – all events include spectacular drives, culinary highlights and unforgettable thrills. A professional photographer will capture lasting memories for everyone.

Driver training for novices and experts

The RACETRACK EXPERIENCE covers all levels of expertise and difficulty from curious beginners and experienced drivers to seasoned experts. Venues include the Mercedes-Benz Testing and Technology Centre in Immendingen, which is normally closed to the public. Events will also take place on the racetracks in Estoril, Portugal, and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium as well as the driving safety centre, Grand Prix track and north loop of the legendary Nürburgring in Germany.

The basic event is the half-day DISCOVER programme, where the focus is on safe driving techniques and getting to know the Mercedes-AMG models. In the subsequent PERFORMANCE and ADVANCED courses, the drivers take to the road to expand their skills and learn how the physics of driving feels in practice. They also gain in-depth knowledge on the handling of high-performance cars and the use of Mercedes-AMG driver assistance systems in challenging situations.

To be eligible for the PRO level, drivers must have previously completed AMG ADVANCED training or a comparable programme. The MASTER training level, with GT2, GT3 or GT 4 racing cars similar to the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, is ideal for drivers with track day ambitions. Through intensive experiences in the driver’s seat, followed by individual feedback from such seasoned competitors as Maro Engel, Bernd Mayländer and Maximilian Götz, both on and off the training site, participants test the limits of their driving skills. The culmination of the MASTERS program is a two-day training course on the Nürburgring north loop or the “Ardenne toboggan” at Spa Francorchamps.

Enjoyable discovery tours immersed in the AMG brand

Programmes under the LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE label range from discovery tours in Croatia, South Tyrol or Tuscany to a trip to a Formula 1™ race. The SPIRIT OF AFFALTERBACH programme offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of the Mercedes-AMG high-performance luxury brand.

In the AMG SUMMER BREEZE programme participants embark on a half-day excursion to learn how to handle the latest Mercedes-AMG models for maximum driving pleasure. The event starts at the Wald- und Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe, a historic hunting lodge that is now one of Germany’s leading five-star hotels. With professional instructors, the drivers explore the picturesque winding roads of the Hohenlohe region.

Experience the SPIRIT OF AFFALTERBACH

The SPIRIT OF AFFALTERBACH is a half-day or full-day experience in which drivers are fully immersed in the world of the Mercedes-AMG brand. In the plant’s own engine works, they get an up‑close look at how the “one man, one engine” philosophy is brought to life. On the guided drive through the unforgettable scenery of the Affalterbach countryside, professional instructors will show how to get the most out of the driving programs to achieve the perfect balance between performance and comfort. The SPIRIT OF AFFALTERBACH CLASSIC EDITION is dedicated to the history of Mercedes-AMG. On this journey, participating drivers take the wheel of legendary classic cars and current models to explore milestones in the history of the brand.

Unforgettable journeys through Europe’s most scenic regions

The five-day AMG EXPLORER CROATIA programme features culinary delights in picturesque towns and spectacular drives through winding mountain passes and on breathtaking coastal roads along the Adriatic Sea. With luxury accommodation and exciting daily activities, this trip leaves nothing to be desired.

The event AMG EXPLORER SOUTH TYROL features five days of Alpine panoramas, excellent cuisine, culture and automotive performance at the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG on scenic routes in the mountains of South Tyrol. In the six-day AMG GRAND EXPLORER TOSCANA programme, everyday routine vanishes in the rear-view mirror. The trip across Tuscany takes in green vistas of cypresses and olive trees, vineyards and vibrant cities. In a luxury hotel the participants savour gourmet Mediterranean cuisine and Tuscan specialities. This spectacular driving experience showcases some of the most beautiful regions of Italy.

Glamour, adrenaline and thrills: the AMG GRAND EXPLORER F1 programme offers backstage access to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1™ team at the Hungarian Grand Prix on the Hungaroring track. Participants broaden their horizons with a pit lane walk, live interviews and an exciting accompanying programme, complemented by breathtaking cross-country drives.

Instructors are top racing drivers and AMG brand ambassadors

At selected AMG EXPERIENCE events, successful racing drivers and brand ambassadors are on hand as instructors. Maro Engel, Maximilian Götz, Bernd Schneider, Karl Wendlinger and Bernd Mayländer are much in demand as experts on all aspects of professional driving.

Maro Engel was runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship in 2007. He competed in the DTM and, with his numerous victories, including the GT World Cup in Macau and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, is one of the world’s top GT3 drivers. His record-setting drive around the Nürburgring North Loop with the Mercedes-AMG ONE stands as the fastest-ever lap of that course with a street-legal production car. Maximilian Götz is also a highly successful GT3 driver: he topped the ADAC GT Masters table in 2012, won the Blancpain Sprint Series in 2014 and was DTM champion in 2021.

With his record five titles in the internationally renowned DTM series, Bernd Schneider’s nickname “Mr. DTM” is well-earned. In 2013 he won both the Dubai 24 Hours and the Nürburgring 24 Hours in an SLS AMG GT3. The Austrian driver Karl Wendlinger was active in Formula 1™ from 1991 to 1995 and was a DTM driver from 2002 to 2003. He has been a brand ambassador for Mercedes-AMG since 2012. Bernd Mayländer has been the driver of the Official FIA F1 Safety Car® since 2000. In that year he took the chequered flag at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. He drove a Mercedes-Benz CLK for the Manthey Racing Team in the DTM in 2001 and 2002 and won the final race on the Hockenheimring track in the 2001 season.

The fleet: The full range of Mercedes-AMG cars

The AMG EXPERIENCE fleet includes all drive technologies, vehicle classes and body types. They range from conventional V8 models, performance hybrids and battery-electric vehicles through to thoroughbred racing cars similar to the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Programme. Depending on the event type and option package, one or two of each vehicle may be provided.

About the AMG EXPERIENCE

The AMG EXPERIENCE offers exclusive driving experiences and training in Germany and Europe. The AMG LIFESTYLE tours let drivers experience the AMG driving sensation for themselves on carefully selected routes. Participants are accommodated in exclusive hotels and treated to gourmet cuisine. In the AMG RACETRACK training events, they hone their driving skills on the racetrack under the guidance of professional instructors from the motorsport world. AMG EXPERIENCE has been thrilling customers in 15 different markets with exhilarating driving experiences since 2007, with events hosted in such countries as Australia, China, Japan and the USA.

AMG EXPERIENCE events are organised and hosted by zet:motion. GmbH as an external and independent tour operator. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is a trademark of Mercedes-Benz AG used by zet:motion. GmbH under licence. For detailed information on the events, visit: https://experience.mercedes-amg.com/en/#0.

The motor racing community and the entire Daimler Family are in mourning for the devastating loss of Niki Lauda. The three-time Formula One World Champion and businessman passed away peacefully on Monday evening at the age of 70 surrounded by his closest family members.

2017 Singapore Grand Prix, Saturday – Paul Ripke 2017 Singapore Grand Prix, Saturday – Paul Ripke

“The motorsports world has lost its greatest fighter. The Mercedes family has lost an amazing mentor. And I have lost a true friend. Thanks Niki!” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Ola Källenius, CEO elect of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, added: “We are mourning the loss of a very special person who showed terrific fighting spirit. Niki Lauda achieved enormous success and had a huge impact on motor racing. He was an exceptionally talented racing driver and a real inspiration as a businessman. His family are in our thoughts at this sad time.”

In 2012, Niki Lauda was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. While exercising this role, Niki won both the drivers’ and constructors’ Formula One World Championships with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport five times in a row between 2014 and 2018.

“Niki will always remain one of the greatest legends of our sport – he combined heroism, humanity and honesty inside and outside the cockpit,“ said Toto Wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. “Niki, you are quite simply irreplaceable, there will never be another like you. It was our honour to call you our Chairman – and my privilege to call you my friend.”

Mercedes-AMG was born on the racetrack more than 50 years ago – for the first time anywhere in the world, a racetrack now bears the successful brand name: The AMG Speedway in South Korea, an important Mercedes-AMG market, marks the beginning of a new era of the AMG community. The track not only adopted the name, but also sports the hallmark corporate design of AMG. The 4.3-kilometre circuit, some 38 kilometres from Gangnam, the trendy district of the capital Seoul, allows experiencing the brand’s Driving Performance as intensively and exclusively as nowhere else in the region. The AMG Lounge provides an inviting setting for community discussions and personal exchanges with AMG experts. In addition, the sports car and performance brand will also use the AMG Speedway for the presentation of new models, dealer training, and other event formats.

The AMG Lounge provides an inviting setting for community discussions and personal exchanges with AMG experts.

The 4.3-kilometre circuit, some 38 kilometres from Gangnam, the trendy district of the capital Seoul, allows experiencing the brand’s Driving Performance intensively and exclusively.

The AMG Speedway is thus not only an important step in the further dynamic development of AMG in South Korea. It also stands for the strategic expansion of our face-to-face communication.

AMG Speedway Opening Ceremony May 8, 2018: (From left to right: Byung Suk JEONG, Executive Director of SAMSUNG C&T Corporation, Resort Group / Keumyong CHUNG, President & CEO of SAMSUNG C&T Corporation, Resort Group / Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH / Dimitris Psillakis, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea / Martin Schulz, Sales & Marketing Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Korea)

AMG Speedway Opening Ceremony May 8, 2018: Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Bo

The performance, the precision and the driving dynamics of an AMG model are best and most safely experienced on a racetrack. “The AMG Speedway is the world’s first racetrack bearing our name. This underlines the importance of South Korea as one of our main markets. The AMG Speedway is thus not only an important step in the further dynamic development of AMG in South Korea. It also stands for the strategic expansion of our face-to-face communication. Customers and fans can experience the essence of our brand here first hand”, says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Thanks to an attractive product range, Mercedes-AMG in South Korea recorded a significant double-digit growth and a new sales record in 2017.

The circuit and its surroundings are not only being branded with high-profile AMG logos, but are also enhanced with a host of exclusive AMG locations in the corporate design such as the AMG Lounge the separate pit lane and paddock area.

The AMG Speedway is based on the South Korea’s first permanent racetrack, which was inaugurated in 1995. The circuit was extensively reconfigured and expanded in 2011 using the plans of renowned racetrack designer Hermann Tilke. The circuit is now 4.3-kilometres long and winds its way through 17 turns and over a bridge on the grounds of the Everland Resort theme park on the outskirts of the capital Seoul.

The new Mercedes-AMG GT3 will not make its North American debut in next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.  Not because of mechanical issues or lack of teams wanting to drive the coveted race car, but because there is not enough time to produce enough new cars, this according to Thomas Jäger of AMG customer sports, one of the manufacturer’s factory drivers. “Unfortunately we are not able to deliver cars here for Daytona, because we sold so many cars to our current customers, that we are not able to deliver (to) new customers over there,” Jäger said.

A company concerned about its current customers and not just making new ones, can’t complain with that.

“It would be unfair to not give cars to our current customers, which have been in the program for the last five years, and give cars to new customers.”

2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Race Car

There remains sufficient customer interest in North America, Jäger said. Weistec Engineering announced two new cars for Pirelli World Challenge next season and he said Mercedes-AMG is talking to two other teams.

The best case scenario for a debut in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, he said, is likely going to be the midseason.

“On one hand it’s good, because our sales are very good. On the other hand it would have been great to have some new teams over here. So we work on that, and we shoot to have cars on grid for midseason, or the latest by 2017 in WeatherTech.”

One of the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars is at Daytona this week for baseline Balance of Performance testing.

Two of the previous generation Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s are here as well, run by Elton Julian’s DragonSpeed operation.

“For us, it’s an important market. We want to be here,” Jäger said. “This is why we are here for the BoP test, to get the car properly balanced, that we have the possibility to run in one of the next races.”

The test will mark Jäger’s debut at Daytona; he noted the differences in the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 compared to the previous generation SLS.

“What was very important in the development was to lower the weight, because, with the new performance windows, we wanted to fit perfectly in there for one target,” he said.

“We want to keep the good driveability from the SLS, because the gentlemen driver felt good immediately with the car. This one, we have achieved from the GT as well. It’s more race car. It’s as reliable. It supports the customer teams.

“We have increased the mileage for the engine, so it’s now 20,500 kilmometers before rebuild, and the gearbox will last longer so the running costs will go down. The SLS will be another improvement.

“In total it’s a very good package as a customer car. We hope to be competitive the next five years; the SLS, we did not have the performance update for the teams. It’s nice to drive and I hope we will be successful in the future.”

A 2014 470 Horsepower Tesla Model S P85 takes on a 2014 Mercedes G63 AMG in a 1/4 mile drag race. The Tesla 85 kWh electric engine makes 470 Horsepower and uses no fuel, whereas the G63 makes 536 horsepower and gets 13 miles per gallon.

The new Mercedes A45 AMG may, in some circles, be known as ‘the Beast, but is the 355 bhp entry level AMG more powerful than the BMW M135i and Volkswagen Golf GTI? Check out the hot hatchback battle below to see who is victorious. Don’t have time to watch the video, skip below to find out which brand brought home the victory

Spoiler Alert: The unquestionable winner of the hot hatch group was the Mercedes A45 AMG, it’s more stable, more comfortable and is like a mini rocket ship with it’s explosive power. Coming in at a distant second to the A45 AMG, the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which is the bargain of the group, outperforming the more expensive BMW M135i.

When it comes to classic car events, there is no question that the Mille Miglia is one of the highlights of the year. Car enthusiasts from around the world make the trek to Italy to watch or take part in the 1,000 mile endurance race that kicks off on May 16. Taking part in the 2013 Mille Miglia will be Mercedes-Benz Classic with the legendary 300 SLR, numerous other vintage models and Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon.

Watch the video below of last year’s Mille Miglia for an idea of what Steve Cannon and other racers and fans will experience at this year’s race.

Thanks to a long illustrious history, Mercedes-Benz and Mille Miglia will be forever linked. For example Karl Kling drove a 300 SL racing car (W 194) to finish second place in 1952, symbolising the successful return of the Mercedes-Benz brand to the international racing stage. And of course no one can forget the legendary victory of Rudolf Caracciola in 1931. Along with his co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian, the Mercedes-Benz driver became the first non-Italian to win the Mille Miglia in his SSKL model.

Mille Miglia 2012, Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S, 1955) with Jochen Mass at the wheel. Original car of Juan Manuel Fangio at the Mille Miglia 1955

And perhaps the most famous moment for Mercedes-Benz at the Mille Miglia was in 1955 when Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson won the 1,000 mile race with the number 722 300 SLR (W 196 S). Sterling Moss won the race by maintaining an average speed of 97.95 mph.  The team completed the course in the fastest ever time of ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds.

There will be four famous faces representing Mercedes-Benz Classic at this year’s event: former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard will drive a 300 SLR (W 196 S) while Karl Wendlinger and Jochen Mass will team up in a 300 SL (W 198). Bernd Mayländer, the current driver of the Official F1 Safety Car, will also start at this year’s Mille Miglia in a 300 SL (W 198).

Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 658) in a Mercedes-Benz Model 300 SLR racing sports car just before the start of the 1955 Mille Miglia.

In addition to several Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198) models, this superb line-up will include an SSK, the legendary six-cylinder supercharged vehicle from the pre-war era. Also taking part is the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing model (W 194) with the original chassis number 5. It is the same vehicle that saw Rudolf Caracciola secure fourth place at the Mille Miglia in 1952. What’s more, the 300 SLR with starting number 658, behind whose wheel David Coulthard will be starting the race, is an original participant vehicle: in 1955, the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio drove this very vehicle solo across the finish line to take second place in the overall rankings, coming in just behind the winning team of Moss and Jenkinson, thus making 1955 doubly successful for the Mercedes-Benz brand.

The vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Classic at Mille Miglia 2013

Mercedes-Benz SSK 27/170/225 hp (W 06), 1928

Of all the six-cylinder supercharged vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz S-series, the SSK (W 06) is the most exclusive and most impressive model. SSK stands for “Super-Sport-Kurz” (Super Sport Short) and its particularly sporty design is emphasised by the shortened wheelbase. Rudolf Caracciola got off to a flying start in the summer of 1928 in the brand-new SSK, winning the Gabelbachrennen race, as well as both the Schauinsland and Mont Ventoux races. In 1930 and 1931, the SSK helped him secure victory at the European Hill Climb Championship. Spectacular success was also achieved with the lighter, even more powerful version from 1931, known as the SSKL (“Super-Sport-Kurz-Leicht”; Super Sport Short Light). One particularly significant victory was recorded at Mille Miglia in April 1931 when Rudolf Caracciola drove the SSKL over the finishing line in first place, making him the first ever non-Italian to win the race. He even set a new record by travelling at an average speed of 101.1 km/h.

The 'Mille Miglia', the 1,000-mile race starting and finishing in Brescia, 12 and 13 April 1931. Rudolf Caracciola and his co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL racing car (W 06 RS model series) at the finish line in Brescia. It is the first time that a foreigner is the overall winner of this famous Italian race.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing car (W 194), 1952

Mercedes-Benz returned to the world of international motorsport after the Second World War in 1952 with the 300 SL racing car (W 194). This vehicle was based on an extremely light, yet torsionally stiff space frame, covered by an elegantly curved, aerodynamic light-alloy body shell made from aluminium magnesium sheet metal. The space frame, with its increased torsional stiffness, was quite high at the sides of the vehicle in comparison to other vehicles. In turn, this meant that conventional doors were not suitable. Instead, the W 194 featured the characteristic gullwing doors attached to the roof. This design was also used for the 300 SL (W 198) series-production sports car from 1954, referred to in the English-speaking world as the “Gullwing”.

Powering the W 194 was the 170 hp (125 kW) M 194 inline six-cylinder engine with 2996 cubic centimetres of displacement. The 300 SL launched its racing career at the Mille Miglia in May 1952, after being unveiled in March of the same year. There were major successes recorded in the first and only racing season of the W 194, which included 1st. 2nd and 3rd place at the Bern Prize for Sports Cars, the spectacular 1st and 2nd place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and at the 3rd Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, as well as winning the Jubilee Grand Prix for sports cars at the Nürburgring.

Mille Miglia, 3 to 4 May 1952. Driving team Rudolf Caracciola/Paul Kurrle (No. 613) with Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194, 1952) takes fourth place

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S), 1955

In 1955, Mercedes-Benz won the World Sportscar Championship with the 300 SLR. This vehicle is essentially a W 196 R Formula 1 racing car fitted with a two-seater sports car bodyshell albeit with a three-litre in-line eight-cylinder engine and light alloy cylinder blocks instead of the 2.5-litre Formula 1 engine and its welded steel cylinders which were required for thermal reasons.

With 310 hp (221 kW), the 300 SLR was way ahead of the competition in 1955, as proven by its 1st and 2nd place victories at the Mille Miglia, the Eifel race, the Swedish Grand Prix and Targa Florio. Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson (start number 722) won the Mille Miglia in 1955 with a record average speed of 157.65 km/h, one that remains unbeaten to this day. They were helped to victory by the “prayer book”. This was a series of notes on the course used by Jenkinson to direct Moss as they travelled across Italy. Lone driver Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 658) took second place.

Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 658) in a Mercedes-Benz Model 300 SLR racing sports car just before the start of the 1955 Mille Miglia.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198), 1954

In February 1954, the 300 SL “Gullwing” was unveiled to the world for the first time at the International Motor Sport Show in New York. The new high-performance sports car was based on the legendary 300 SL racing car (W 194) from the 1952 season. A light and torsionally rigid space frame supported the engine, gearbox and axles. Just like the racing version, it left no space for the classic door design, so the gullwing doors also became a distinctive feature of this series-production sports car. In any case, the “Gullwing” represented real innovative thinking. As the world’s first series-production passenger car, it was powered by a four-stroke engine with fuel injection. This not only increased efficiency, but also engine performance. With 215 hp (158 kW), thus 20 percent more than the carburettor racing version, top speeds of up to 260 km/h were possible, depending on the final transmission ratio. This made the 300 SL the fastest series-production vehicle of its time and the 1950s racing car that dreams were made of.

It also helped secure victory at Mille Miglia: in 1955, the team of John Fitch and Kurt Gessl won the Gran Turismo class for vehicles with a displacement of over 1600 cubic centimetres, achieving 5th place in the overall classification. Olivier Gendebien and Jacques Washer also secured 7th place in the same class. The 300 SL made another appearance at Mille Miglia in 1956 when the team of Prince Metternich and Count Einsiedel took 6th place in the big GT class.

Mille Miglia, Brescia in Italy, 1 May 1955. Winners in the production sports car class: John Cooper Fitch and Kurt Gesell (start number 417) in a Mercedes-Benz Type 300 SL (W 198) touring sports car

Mercedes-Benz 220 a (W 180), 1954

The 220 model introduced in the spring of 1954 – also known internally within the company as the 220 a (W 180) – was the first Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder model to feature a self-supporting structure. Presented by Mercedes-Benz just six months previously in the mid-size 180 model, the modern and spacious self-supporting “Pontoon” body offered a standard of comfort as yet unknown to drivers. The single-joint swing axle, introduced to series-production with the 220 model, ensured safe handling.

At the Mille Miglia in 1956, several Mercedes-Benz 220 models started in the class for standard special touring vehicles. In this class, modifications were permitted to both the chassis and the engine. The team of Erwin Bauer and Erwin Grupp won their class at the legendary Italian endurance race with a special 220 model. Three vehicles had been specially prepared for the Mille Miglia by Karl Kling and his team. They already had the twin-carburettor system of the successor 220 S model, with an engine capable of approximately 115 hp (85 kW). For the challenging journey, there were shorter and harder springs, as well as modified shock absorbers. Furthermore, the drivers were able to change gears using the floor shift, just like in the 190 SL, instead of the previously used steering column shift.

Mille Miglia 2012, Mercedes-Benz 220 a (W 180, 1954 bis 1959).

Mercedes-Benz’s association with the Mille Miglia is an enthralling story, full of great sporting moments. The high points include the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car’s (model series W 194) first entry into the 1000-mile race 60 years ago: in May 1952, Karl Kling scored second and former champion Rudolf Caracciola came fourth. This represented a promising start to Mercedes-Benz’s return to the international motorsport arena.

For this year’s Mille Miglia, Mercedes-Benz Classic is paying homage to that 1952 premiere and other successes achieved by the Stuttgart-based racing department in the legendary road race first held 85 years ago: from May 17 to 20, 2012 an original 300 SL racing sports car will be taking part in the 1000-mile rally from Brescia to Rome and back. These days, the Mille Miglia is an event for vintage vehicles which only those types of classic cars dating from the original road race between 1927 and 1957 may enter. 2012 sees this historic Mille Miglia – one of the most exciting events for classic cars at all – being held for the 30th time.

The organisers aim to fill the field with exemplars of authentic cars and as many original vehicles from the era of the Mille Miglia races of speed as possible. In addition to the 300 SL (W 194) racing sports car, therefore, Mercedes-Benz Classic will be represented by a large number of other exclusive vehicles ranging from the SSK racing touring car to the 300 SLR (W 196 S) racer and the standard 300 SL (W 198 I) sports car. The line-up includes the 300 SLR driven by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1955 Mille Miglia (his starting number then was 658 and he placed second overall) and the 300 SL production car with which John Cooper Fitch won a class victory among the GT sports cars with a displacement above 1300 cc that same year (starting number 417, ranked fifth overall). A Mercedes-Benz 180 D will also be there – a saloon of this model won the diesel class of the 1955 Mille Miglia.

The 2012 Mille Miglia kicks off on 16 May with the technical checks and other items on the agenda in Brescia. There is also a special “Mercedes-Benz Champions at Mille Miglia” exhibition at the Museo Mille Miglia in Brescia. Daimler entered into a strategic partnership with the museum in January 2012 and, among other fascinating topics, the present exhibition covers the 1952 racing debut of the 300 SL prototypes and the legendary victories by Rudolf Caracciola in 1931 in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL and by Stirling Moss in 1955 in the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

On 17 May, the 376 participating vehicles will be presented to the public in the old town of Brescia before the first car sets off at 6.30 p.m. All cars will then head to Ferrara, the end of the first stage, arriving by late evening and passing Lake Garda via Verona, Vicenza and Padua en route. From Ferrara, the event continues next morning (18 May) to Ravenna, through the Republic of San Marino and then on to Rome. The third and final leg goes from Rome to Viterbo, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Modena, Reggio nell’Emilia and Cremona before the participants arrive back in Brescia on 19 May. The awards ceremony takes place on 20 May. This year, the Mille Miglia’s route crosses the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the 2012 Mille Miglia

Mercedes-Benz SSK (W 06), 1928–1932

Of the supercharged six-cylinder sports cars in the Mercedes-Benz S-series, the SSK (model series W 06) is the most exclusive and beguiling. The model designation is an abbreviation of “Super-Sport-Kurz” (German for Super-Sport-Short) because it combines a short wheelbase with extreme sportiness. On 29 July 1928, the brand-new SSK was driven straight to victory by factory racing driver Rudolf Caracciola in the Gabelbach race and other races such as the Schauinsland hill climb near Freiburg and at Mont Ventoux. In 1930 and 1931 the SSK helped Caracciola win the European Hillclimbing Championship. With its weight reduced and performance enhanced further, the 1931 version – also known as the SSKL (Super-Sport-Short-Light) – achieved equally spectacular successes. One of the most significant was victory in the legendary 1000-mile Mille Miglia: in April 1931, Rudolf Caracciola in the SSKL became the first non-Italian to win the gruelling road race from Brescia to Rome and back.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194), 1952

Mercedes-Benz returned to international motorsport in 1952 with the 300 SL racing sports car (model series W 194). A lightweight space frame forms the basis of this sports car over which a light alloy body made of aluminium/magnesium sheet metal elegantly curves. Because the space frame sits comparatively high at the sides it was not possible to fit the W 194 with conventional doors, which is how the racing sports car comes to have its distinctive, upwardly opening gullwing doors. This detail became part of the production model 300 SL sports car (W 198 I) in 1954. The W 194 is powered by the 175 hp (129 kW) M 194 six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 2996 cc. The 300 SL made its racing debut in May 1952 at the Mille Miglia, having been unveiled for the first time that March. Some of the W 194’s greatest successes in the 1952 racing season were a threefold victory in the Prix de Berne race, double victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 3rd Carrera Panamericana and victory in the Nürburgring Anniversary Sports Car Grand Prix.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S), 1955

Mercedes-Benz won the 1955 World Sportscar Championship with the 300 SLR. This sports car is based on the chassis of the W 196 Formula One racing car but has two seats and a three-litre, eight-cylinder in-line engine made of light alloy in place of the 2.5-litre Formula One engine with its steel cylinders. Delivering 310 hp (221 kW), the 300 SLR is superior to its competitors from 1955, as documented by gaining first and second place in the Mille Miglia, the Eifel race on the Nürburgring, the Swedish Grand Prix and the Targa Florio. The 1955 Mille Miglia was won by Stirling Moss assisted by navigator Denis Jenkinson at an average speed of 157.65 km/h, a record that has never been beaten. Pacenotes proved invaluable in achieving this victory and at the time were a new technique allowing Jenkinson to direct the driver Moss very effectively. Juan Manuel Fangio came second driving solo. In Sweden and the 24 Hours of Le Mans the 300 SLRs were assisted by an “air brake” – a 0.7-square metre hood over the rear axle that could be hinged up when braking to increase braking performance. At Le Mans Mercedes-Benz withdrew the 300 SLRs, which were in the lead, after an accident involving the Belgian Pierre Levegh through no fault of his own.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198 I), 1954–1957

The 300 SL gullwing made its debut in February 1954 at the International Motor Sports Show in New York. This high-performance sports car is based on the legendary racing sports car from the 1952 season. A lightweight, torsionally stiff space frame carries the engine, transmission and axles. As with the racing version, there is no room for conventional doors and so the gullwing doors are a distinctive feature of the 300 SL (model series W 198 I). The gullwing model is also a champion of innovation in other respects: it was the world’s first production passenger car to be powered by a four-stroke engine featuring petrol injection. This boosted efficiency as well as engine output to 215 hp (158 kW), a 20 percent increase on the carburetted competition-only version and permitting a top speed of up to 260 km/h, depending on the transmission ratio installed. This makes the 300 SL the fastest production vehicle of its time and the dream sports car of the 1950s. It was also driven to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia by the team comprising John Fitch and Kurt Gesell, winning the Gran Turismo production class above 1600 cc and coming fifth overall. Also in the Gran Turismo class, the team comprising Olivier Gendebien and Jacques Washer ranked seventh overall. The 300 SL took part in the 1956 Mille Miglia too: in the big GT class the team of Prince Metternich and Count Einsiedel came in sixth.

Mercedes-Benz 180 D (W 120), 1954–1959

The first diesel-engined version of the Mercedes-Benz 180 (model series W 120) was premiered in January 1954. The Stuttgart-based brand now offered its modern “Ponton” saloon with a compression-ignition assembly outputting 40 hp (29 kW) with a displacement of 1767 cc. From 1953 (preproduction series) to 1959, a total of 114,046 model 180 D saloons were built. With a top speed of up to 110 km/h, this diesel saloon cannot compare with the racing and sports cars that were favourites to win the Mille Miglia overall in 1955. However, the 180 D is a highly contemporary car with a self-supporting body and what is known as a subframe to which the front wheels, located by double wishbones, were attached. The car proved its strength and reliability in the Italian road race: Mercedes-Benz entered several 180 D vehicles, culminating in a threefold win in the diesel class for the cars with starting numbers 04, 09 and 010A.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3  super sports cars driven by the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon Team and HEICO Motorsport placed 1-2-3 in the Dubai 24-hour race that took place January 12-14, 2012.. The Abu Dhabi Black Falcon team claimed victory with drivers Thomas Jäger (GER), Sean Edwards (ENG), Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED) and Khaled Al Qubaisi (UAE). After setting a new distance record of 628 race laps, final driver Al Qubaisi drove the Gullwing with starting number 3 across the finish line. This first place was also the maiden victory for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in a 24-hour race.

The first of HEICO Motorsport’s Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3’s came home second, two laps down. Driving duties in the car with starting number 6 were shared by Maximilian Buhk (GER), Christiaan Frankenhout (NED), Max Nilsson (SWE), Andreas Zuber (AUT) and Bernd Schneider (GER). Schneider, the five times’ DTM champion and AMG brand ambassador, drove in both of HEICO Motorsport’s cars as a part of AMG’s Customer Sports driver support programme. In the team’s sister car with starting number 16, he had been entered to partner Kenneth Heyer (GER), Andreas Simonsen (SWE) and Rodolfo Gonzalez (VEN). In a dramatic finish, final driver Simonsen managed to bring a small margin home to round out the clean sweep of the podium by finishing third.

The fourth of the four SLS AMG GT3s that were entered for the race also finished among the front-runners. The Gravity Charouz Racing team with Vincent Radermecker (BEL), Loris de Sordi (BEL), Eric Lux (LUX), Gerard Lopez (ESP) and Tomas Enge (CZE) was classified seventh to complete the good overall performance for the Gullwing cars.

All four Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s put their mark on the Dubai 24-hour race by showing a commanding performance from the very beginning. In the field of the 72 cars, the Gullwings were among the fastest entries right away. Having started from 15th place on the grid, the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 moved up into the lead for the first time after two hours. Consistently fast lap times also allowed the other Gullwings to move up quickly into the ranks of the front-runners as well.

During the night, the teams from the AMG Customer Sports programme continued their largely trouble-free run on the 5.39 km long Grand Prix circuit, maintaining their fast lap times and partly alternating in the lead. After one third of the race, the Gullwing with starting number 3 finally took over the lead and held on to it until it crossed the finish line.

Thomas Jäger: “This is an optimal result for the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon team. It shows in an impressive way how performant and reliable the SLS AMG GT3 is. The driver changes went perfectly and, admittedly, we also had the necessary bit of luck: we didn’t get involved in any collisions, which isn’t self-evident with so many cars on such a short track. I want to thank the entire team for a great performance.”

Marc Schramm, managing director Black Falcon: “We came to Dubai to win. That is what we have said prior to the race and we lived up to it thanks to a strong team performance. As usual, the focus of our strategy was on consistency and that worked out in a fantastic way. Of course, I am also happy with having covered a new record distance of 628 laps. Thanks to the entire team and, of course, also to Mercedes-AMG and HWA for the support.”

Bernd Schneider: “During the night, we had a minor problem, that’s why we stood in the pits for a couple of minutes. Had it not been for that, it could even have been slightly better. To be honest, I now feel a little bit knocked out after having raced with both cars, but the success more than makes up for this. After all, finishing second and third at the same time doesn’t happen every day. Congratulations also to the Abu Dhabi Black Falcon team for this well-deserved race win.”

Ola Källenius, chairman of the board, Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “This is a great success! Especially considering that the participation in Dubai was only the fifth 24-hour race for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Today’s clean sweep of the top three is a great reward for our efforts. I sincerely want to thank our customer teams, drivers and everyone involved. I am looking for a great 2012 motor racing season!”

Most successful newcomer in the 2011 motor sport season

This year’s Dubai 24-hour race marks the beginning of the second racing season for the SLS AMG GT3. In its debut year of 2011, the Gullwing became probably the most successful newcomer in the 2011 motorsport season: from March 2011 on 40 race cars were delivered to international customer teams that took part in races on four continents and won a total of 25 races. The success story was crowned by the team title of the FIA GT3 European Championship for HEICO Motorsport and its two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – the first title for the Gullwing in its first full racing season.

The race car: performance and safety

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 is the racing version of the SLS AMG for the customer sport. It is designed for sprint and endurance races and is developed and produced by Mercedes-AMG in close cooperation with HWA AG. HWA is responsible for the development and deployment of the AMG-Mercedes DTM racing team on behalf of and in constant consultation with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. The near-production SLS AMG GT3 provides not only an athletic performance but an exemplary level of safety that is unmatched by any other current GT3 car.