With the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race 2011 taking place this weekend and the outstanding results shown by Petronas Syntium Team in the qualifying round earlier today, it's both interesting and worthwhile to have a closer look at what could possibly be the main reason behind team's success this year - the brand new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.
So why exactly would the team make a switch from the already good BMW Z4 M they were driving last season? According to team driver Fariqe Hairuman, the SLS AMG GT3 is in a totally different league. The car is more 'user friendly', easier to drive and helps the team shave off a good few seconds per lap.
Fariqe Hairuman - all set and ready to go
The car was painstakingly designed with aerodynamic performance in mind. The first thing that captures your attention is the massive carbon-fiber GT wing. Together with the front diffuser, it helps to generate a whopping 260kg of downforce at high speeds.
The body of SLS AMG GT3 has been widened to accommodate the 12x18" (front) and 13x18" (rear) AMG light-alloy rims with central locking and slick tyres in size 287x682mm (front) and 315x708mm (rear).
Four pneumatic jacks are integrated into the underbody, which help to lift the car for wheel changes by the pit crew.
To stop the madness, Mercedes-Benz fitted the car with perforated and ventilated steel disk brakes and the biggest Brembo calipers suitable for the 18" rims.
The cooling ducts (can be seen in the photo above) have been installed in order to prevent the disks from overheating
As you would expect from a racecar, the interior is void of any luxury found in the street-legal version of the SLS AMG and fitted with many buttons and switches that most people will find too confusing. The only thing that was not sacrificed is the safety - SLS AMG GT3 is equipped with six-point harness, HANS (Head and Neck Support) device and individually foam-contoured bucket seat. The bucket seat is positioned within a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic safety cell. The cell is attached to the high-strength steel rollover cage, which in its turn reinforces the aluminium space frame. Just like the production version, SLS AMG GT3 features pyrotechnic triggers on each door hinge, which are used to remove the doors in case the car ends up on its roof after an accident.
At the heart of it all is the AMG 6.2L V8 engine. It is interesting to note that the original 563 hp engine deemed too powerful for the GT3 rules and regulations and had to be detuned. However, it didn't seem to have much impact on the performance due to the fact that the car has been stripped down and weighs 300kg less than its street-legal brother.
Overall, it's crystal clear that this monster of a car is set to bring the team more good lap times. All the best to Petronas Syntium in the forthcoming Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race 2011 and good luck... though, who needs luck with a professional team like that and a car like Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.
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