Formula One news

Mercedes-Benz presents 2008 F1 Safety Car

In 2008 Mercedes-Benz will once again provide the Formula 1 with the official Safety Car.The Safety Car is based on the SL 63 AMG in 2008, while the Medical Car is a C 63 AMG Estate. Mercedes is proving the official Safety Car since 1996 in Formula 1.

The two specially prepared AMG high-performance automobiles will be on duty for the first time when the Grand Prix season kicks off in Melbourne, Australia (March 14 to 16, 2008). The specialists from the AMG development team and the Performance Studio are responsible for the development, production and servicing of the vehicles.

The official F1 Safety Car is immediately on hand whenever the safety of a race is threatened by accidents, adverse weather conditions or other hazardous situations. After receiving his instructions from the race management, Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the Safety Car, must go to the head of the Formula 1 field and safely guide the world's fastest racing drivers around the circuit. Fast lap times are a must for the Safety Car, because otherwise the sensitive Formula 1 engines would overheat - and their tyres and brakes would cool down excessively.

In the 2008 Formula 1 season, Mayländer, 36, will be behind the wheel of a new Safety Car, the SL 63 AMG. This high-performance roadster, which was presented to the public just a few days ago at the Geneva Motor Show, has the finest of pedigrees for its challenging assignment: its AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine has a power output of 386 kW/525 hp, providing acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. A newly developed AMG sport exhaust system with larger pipe diameter and new rear silencers allows the high-revving AMG naturally aspirated engine to breathe even more freely. Both the motor sport fans at the racetrack and also those at home in front of their TV sets are captivated by the vehicle's special sound tuning.

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