With the first race of the 2015 Formula One season set to take place next week in Melbourne, Mercedes-Benz takes the covers off their new safety and medical car that will be on full alert throughout the whole season.
The SLS AMG did a good job in undertaking the task of a safety car, but it is now time to pass the baton to the all-new AMG GT S. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, it develops 510-horsepower and 650Nm of torque and power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. This allows the AMG GT S to sprint from zerotohundred in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 310km/h.
In order to assume the task of a safety car, it is fitted with an LED light bar mounted on the roof sitting on top of a carbon fiber air scoop. The number plate has also been modified to flash orange/green LEDs which are synchronized with the light bar. The headlights and rear lights will display a stroboscopic effect once the Safety Car hits the track.
Driving the AMG GT S Safety Car will be the official Formula One Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander who held the position since 2000, accompanied by FIA Fuel Analyst Peter Tibbetts who will be monitoring the cars via two iPads. Also fitted in the AMG GT S are two radio systems, WLAN connectivity, GPS, transponder, telemetry and a “Marshalling System”.
As for the Medical Car, the C63 Estate seems to be the most appropriate candidate for the job. With a same engine under the hood as the AMG GT S, the Estate rolls with 510-horsepower but with a higher torque figure of 700Nm. Zerotohundred takes only 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h.
Racing driver Alan van der Merwe will be driving the car while FIA head physician Dr Ian Roberts will be the co-driver. Aside from the array of gadgets that the AMG GT S Safety Car gets, the trunk of the C63 Estate is fitted with emergency equipment like a respirator and a defibrillator.
