The development of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is reaching another milestone. After the world premier during the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, the race car will now be tested for the first time in racing conditions during the fourth season round of the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring. For the competition debut of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jäger and Jan Seyffarth (all GER) will be alternating behind the wheel. All three are experienced AMG Test- and Development drivers.
The maiden race for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 seamlessly adds to the intense test activities carried out over the past few months. The participation in the race, run by the Mercedes-AMG Test Team, is to bring additional valuable insights for the development. The goal is to prepare the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in an optimal way prior to delivery to the AMG Customer Sport Teams.
In the development process, one of the focal points are the driving characteristics. The excellent driveability, known from the SLS AMG GT3, is added by enhanced agility and optimised efficiency. For the bodywork, the ‘AMG Lightweight Performance’ strategy has been executed in a consequent way. With reduced weight, efficiency of the car has been increased. Just like the road-legal version, the vehicle structure includes a very light and extremely rigid aluminium spaceframe. Moreover, numerous components like bonnet, doors and rear wing, have been made of carbon. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is also setting benchmarks in the area of ergonomics, a very important aspect for setting fast lap times in endurance races.
Another crucial element in the development is safety. Currently, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 has the most comprehensive safety concept in its class and meets the latest FIA standards. No less than three safety zones have been constructed around the driver. In case of an accident, the special carbon seat with integrated headrest provides optimum protection. The roll-cage, made of high-strength steel and the aluminium spaceframe round out the clever concept.
Jochen Bitzer, Head of AMG Customer Sports: “We are already very much looking forward to contesting our maiden race with the Mercedes-AMG GT3. After such an intense test and development phase, we are all keen on testing the car in race conditions. For us, participation in the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring is merely a test, during which we want to put all the components through a function test in genuine conditions.”
With Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jäger and Jan Seyffarth, we will have three drivers on the grid who have been significantly involved in the development of the Mercedes-AMG GT3. As AMG Test- and Development drivers, they have acquired valuable experience with the new race car over the past months. So far, over 12,000 kilometres were racked up in testing with the Mercedes-AMG GT3. For the trio, this first outing in race conditions is the highlight of the development work to date. For the Mercedes-AMG development team, the focus is on the fine-tuning of the special chassis set-up that is required for the Nordschleife. Another important element is competing long runs in race conditions without any interruptions.
The planned test race brings back memories of the race debut of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. In September, 2010, Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger gave the car its race debut at the same venue and thus laid the foundation for the many achievements of the gullwing. Schneider has fond memories of the first race with the SLS AMG GT3: “It is incredible how fast time goes by. Just like back then, it is a great feeling and a huge honour to drive a newly developed car in its maiden race,” the five times’ DTM champion says.