Mercedes-AMG GT R Official FIA F1 Safety Car with a new look
It's a familiar sight for fans of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship: when there's been an accident on track or the weather conditions are bad, a Mercedes-AMG safely leads the field of F1 cars around the track. It's been this way for 25 years. And for 20 years, Bernd Mayländer has been at the steering wheel of the Official FIA F1 Safety Car. Even the color scheme of the car with its silver paint and black décor has stayed the same. But for the 2020 season, things will change: the AMG GT R (combined fuel consumption 12.4 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 284-282 g/km)1 with 430 kW (585 hp) will hit the race track in a new look starting July 2nd, 2020. The car will prominently support the Formula 1 campaign "WeRaceAsOne" by featuring its rainbow key visual on the flanks and on the bonnet of the car. The eye-catching design symbolizes the sports commitment for diversity and inclusion.
When Formula 1 returns to racing this weekend in Austria, it will use this opportunity to thank people all over the world for their strength and resilience in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. The sport will also show its unity in the fight against racism and its commitment to do more to address inequality in Formula 1.
As a sign of this commitment, rainbow visuals and the hashtag #WeRaceAsOne will feature on all Formula 1 cars and around the race track. The rainbow was chosen as it has become a symbol that is used internationally to bring communities together.
In addition to the "WeRaceAsOne" campaign, the call to "Drive Safely" will be visible on the bonnet the Official FIA F1 Safety Car, addressing fans at home who are watching the race on TV or via live stream and reminding them to always drive in a careful and considerate way. Bernd Mayländer's 'company car' also uses the hashtag #PurposeDriven to promote the FIA's (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) commitment to safety, sustainability, gender equality and diversity, and points out the FIA Action for Road Safety with mentions on the roof and tailgate of the car.
From a technical perspective, however, the Official FIA F1 Safety Car remains unchanged: the front-mid engine concept with transaxle gearbox, the powerful 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, the intricately designed chassis, the sophisticated active aerodynamics and the intelligent lightweight construction form the basis for a particularly dynamic driving experience. Optional features include the AMG Track Package with roll-over protection system and the ceramic high-performance composite brake system. The AMG GT R is perfectly qualified for this tough job at the pinnacle of motorsport. The FIA requirements for the Official FIA F1 Safety Car are high. It must be able to maintain a high minimum speed so that the tires and brakes of the Formula 1 cars do not lose too much temperature and the engines do not overheat. With a top speed of 318 km/h and 3.6 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h, this is an easy task for the AMG GT R.
In addition to the Safety Car, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate (combined fuel consumption 10.0-9.3 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 229-214 g/km)1 is ready for emergencies as the Official FIA F1 Medical Car of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. It will also sport the new design.
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Contacts:
Melanie Cecotti, Tel.: +49 160 8628464, melanie.cecotti@daimler.com
Jochen Übler, Tel.: +49 176 30914191, jochen.uebler@daimler.com
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Mercedes-Benz AG is responsible for the global business of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans with over 173,000 employees worldwide. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be leading in the fields of connectivity, automated driving and alternative drives with its forward-looking innovations. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes-Benz brand with the sub-brands Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and Mercedes me - as well as the smart brand, and the EQ product and technology brand for electric mobility. Mercedes-Benz AG is one of the largest manufacturers of premium passenger cars. In 2019 it sold nearly 2.4 million cars and more than 438,000 vans. In its two business divisions, Mercedes-Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with over 40 production sites on four continents, while aligning itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is developing its global battery production network on three continents. Sustainable actions play a decisive role in both business divisions. To the company, sustainability means creating value for all stakeholders on a lasting basis: customers, employees, investors, business partners and the society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of Daimler in which the company takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.
1 The stated figures were determined in accordance with the prescribed measuring method. These are the NEDC CO2 figures according to Article 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated on the basis of these figures
