Mercedes, the cut arrows of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Although the first official entry of a car bearing the Star dates back to 1952, Sarthe had already had to deal with Stuttgart machines two decades earlier, during the eighth edition in 1930. The man who entered an SSK at his own expense was none other than Rudolf Caracciola. The German press had already dubbed him the "Regenmeister" (the rain master) because of his skill on wet roads, but he was still just a dealer. Mercedes in Berlin. The man who would later win three European Drivers' titles (1935, 1937, 1938) was used to driving his imposing white SSK in Grand Prix races across the Old Continent, but the 24 Hours of Le Mans represent a major challenge. No problem for this behemoth, next to which the Bentleys pale. The SSK (for Supersport Kurz, Supersport short) is based on the Mercedes S, a car aimed at a wealthy clientele, from which an engineer removed 48 cm of length from the chassis in order to improve agility. And not just any engineer, since it is Ferdinand Porsche. Yes, "the" Mr. Porsche! The 6-cylinder engine has a displacement that would make downsizing enthusiasts shudder, with 7,1 liters. Add to that a compressor and you get an unmatched power for the time of between 200 and 250 horsepower. The compressor system is part