Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the GT S Safety Car for the 2015 Formula 1 season. The car will debut on track at the first Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia (March 12-15).
The new Mercedes-AMG GT S will guide the Formula 1 field safely around the track when bad weather conditions or accidents necessitate deployment of the Safety Car. The GT S' front mid-engine concept with transaxle, the V8 biturbo engine with dry sump lubrication, the dual clutch transmission and the sports suspension with aluminum double-wishbone axles provide the basis for fast laps on the race circuit.
"The gull-wing SLS AMG was my official car in Formula 1 for five years. Now I'm looking forward to the new Mercedes-AMG GT S, which I have been fortunate enough to get to know during its development phase. The new AMG sports car won me over immediately with its high-caliber race track performance," said the driver Bernd Maylander.
The new Mercedes-AMG GT S is replacing the SLS AMG, which served as the Official Safety Car of the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2010. The gull-wing model was deployed in ten out of 19 races last season and entered the race track 14 times in all.
Same Engine as in Production Mercedes-AMG GT S
The drivetrain of the Official Safety Car of the FIA Formula One World Championship corresponds to the system featuring on the road-going version of the AMG GT S. With a maximum power output of 503 hp and peak torque of 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), the 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine guarantees high-end performance: the GT S dashes from a standing start to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and attains a maximum speed of 193 mph (310 km/h). The GT S is fitted with a modified Performance exhaust system for an even more striking and emotive AMG V8 engine sound.
Sports Bucket Seats
Six-point seat belts and sports bucket seats with the AMG emblem provide maximum support for the Safety Car's crew. The interior of the GT S otherwise corresponds to that of the production vehicle.
Dynamic Plus Package, Ceramic Brakes
The Dynamic Plus package with which the Safety Car is equipped is optionally available to any GT S customer for a further increase in driving dynamics. It comprises dynamic engine and transmission mounts and a specific engine application in "Race" transmission mode and in manual transmission mode "M". The package also includes tauter spring and damper tuning, more negative camber at the front axle as well as an adapted speed-sensitive sports steering system. The Performance steering wheel in black Dinamica microfiber and yellow highlights in the instrument cluster round off the AMG DynamicPlus package.
The Safety Car runs on cross-spoke forged wheels with fully integrated wheel bolt covers. The forged wheels painted in matt black with high-sheen rim flanges are fitted with tires in standard size 265/35 R19 on 9 x 19 (front) and 295/30 R20 on 11 x 20 (rear). This wheel/tire combination is also optionally available to customers for the Mercedes-AMG GT and the GT S.
The high-performance ceramic composite braking system is also optionally available for the road version of the GT. The advantages of this system are lower weight, a longer service life and even better fade resistance thanks to the ceramic brake discs with a diameter of 402 millimeters at the front and 360 millimeters at the rear.
