Mercedes unveils its new safety car

For its 23rd consecutive year as F1 safety car supplier, Mercedes has opted for an AMG GT R.

Published on 20/03/2018 à 12:13

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Mercedes-AMG will remain the exclusive supplier of safety cars in F1 for the 23rd consecutive year this season. The star manufacturer has opted for an AMG GT R capable of reaching a top speed of 318km/h and going from 0 to 100km/h in 3''6 with a 8l biturbo V4.0 engine developing 585hp and which will have elements taken from the AMG GT3. The development of the safey car was carried out on the Nürburgring Nordschleife (Germany).

“I can't wait to get behind the wheel of my new company car, comments F1 safety car driver Bernd Mayländer. It is still a level above the AMG GT S seen in recent years. Obviously, the safety car must be deployed as little as possible. »

To provide maximum grip and performance, the Mercedes AMG GT R has nine levels of traction control to maintain control over the rear axle. The control of the electronic system has also been revised. Ceramic brakes save weight.

Bernd Mayländer is assisted by Richard Darker who follows the peloton on the right seat in the safety car mirrors. He is in permanent radio contact with the race management and has two iPads to view the images broadcast on television on one screen, while the second can provide the position of the cars on the track or the times at any time.

“When the intervention of a safety car is required at a Grand Prix, it is essential to be able to have full confidence in the abilities of the car to be able to carry the F1 field in a completely safe manner, comments Charlie Whiting, the FIA race director. We therefore need a car which is both able to perform on Grand Prix circuits at high speed but which allows F1 drivers to keep their tires and brakes at temperature. »

Mercedes also supplies the medical car with an AMG C 63 S Estate model which can take three doctors. It is piloted by Alan van der Merwe who is assisted by Dr Ian Roberts. This model is also powered by a twin-turbo V8 developing 510 hp and has an AMG Speedshift MCT 9G transmission.

Since its debut as a safety car supplier in 1996, Mercedes has fielded a C 63 AMG (1996 and 1997), a CLK 55 AMG (1997 and 1998), a CL 55 AMG (1999 and 2000), an SL 55 AMG (2001 and 2002), a CLK 55 AMG (2003), an SLK 55 AMG (2004 and 2005), a CLK 63 AMG (2006 and 2007), an SL 63 AMG (2008 and 2009), an SLS AMG (from 2010 to 2014) and an AMG GT S (from 2015 to 2017).

Photos of the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R Safety Car