MercedesBenz

> The focus of the configuration runs in Le Castellet was not only on different suspension and aerodynamic setups, as the engineers and technicians also had the opportunity to practice pitstops and tyre-changes by way of intensive preparation for the 2011 motorsport season. And it was not only technical aspects that were important during the two-day event in Le Castellet, as an attractive media and PR package was also presented for the customer teams and drivers. Professional photographers and film teams produced extensive material which will be freely available to the teams during the 2011 season.

Backup by the AMG Customer Sports Team during the season

The AMG Customer Sports Team will also give support to the customer teams on matters of servicing and replacement parts within Europe. This support concept for the 2011 motorsport season envisages comprehensive backup during the ADAC GT Masters, the N?¼rburgring VLN Endurance Championship, the FIA GT3 European Championship and the 24-hour races at N?¼rburgring and Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). A 24-hour parts service and a technical hotline will be provided for all other racing events and test runs. As the AMG customer sports coordinator, Thomas J?¤ger will support the teams and provide a central point of contact for all organisational and technical matters.

Expert support from Bernd Schneider and Thomas J?¤ger

During the rollout event in Le Castellet organised by Mercedes-AMG, record-holding DTM Champion Bernd Schneider and Thomas J?¤ger were on hand to give advice and assistance to the teams. Schneider and J?¤ger have absolved the entire development and test programme for the SLS AMG GT3, and took part in four races with it in autumn 2010 and January 2011. With one victory and two third places, the racing version of the gull-wing model amply demonstrated its potential.

In 2011 a total of 16 customer teams from 8 nations will be at the starting lines with the SLS AMG GT3:

• Black Falcon (Germany)
• Eurotech Racing (Great Britain)
• G-Private Racing (Germany)
• Graff Racing (France)
• Gravity Charouz Racing (Czech Republic)
• Heico Motorsport (Germany)
• Horn Motorsport (Germany)
• Mamerow Racing (Germany)
• MS RACING (Germany)
• Petronas Syntium Team (Malaysia)
• Preci-Spark (Great Britain)
• Race & Event GmbH (Germany)
• ROWE RACING (Germany)
• Sports & You (Portugal)
• Viage KRK Racing (Belgium)
• Vodka O Racing (Australia)

Well-known drivers in the racing gull-wing will include Kenneth Heyer (Wegberg, 31, Black Falcon), Lance David Arnold (Duisburg, 24, Heico Motorsport), Olivier Panis (France, 44, Graff Racing), Jarek Janis (Czech Republic, 27, Gravity Charouz Racing) and Anthony Kumpen (Belgium, 32, Viage KRK Racing).

But unfortunately there are no teams from the Middle East region at all.

In 2011 the SLS AMG GT3 will compete in 14 different race series conducted under FIA GT3 rules in 8 countries, and the race calendar also includes three prestigious 24-hour races.

• ADAC GT Masters (Germany)
• N?¼rburgring VLN Endurance Championship (Germany)
• N?¼rburgring 24-hour race (Germany)
• Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race (Belgium)
• Silverstone 24-hour race (Great Britain)
• FIA GT3 European Championship
• GT3 Endurance Series
• British GT Masters (Great Britain)
• Britcar GT Championship (Great Britain)
• FFSA GT Series (France)
• Czech Endurance Championship
• Belcar (Belgium)
• Spanish and Portuguese GT Championship
• Australian GT Championship

The racing version of the SLS AMG is developed and produced by AMG in close collaboration with HWA AG. The HWA team is one of the most successful in international motorsport, as witness 10 driver's titles in the DTM and ITC, as well as two FIA GT Championship titles. No other brand has won as many DTM races and DTM titles as AMG-Mercedes.

The SLS AMG GT3 is built by HWA AG, while its AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine is produced in the AMG custom shop. Both the car and engine are assembled completely by hand.

TS