Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3's Win Title

Team Heico Motorsport, with their two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s, secured the team title of the 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship in Zandvoort, Netherlands. It is the first title for the gullwing car in its first full racing season. In the final two races at Netherland’s North Sea coast, Christiaan Frankenhout/Patrick Hirsch came home fourth and sixth respectively while their teammates, Dominik Baumann/Brice Bosi, finished fifth and second. Thus, Heico Motorsport improved from third overall to the top in the final race. Congratulations to Heico Motorsport!

Big racing weekend for AMG.

AMG C-Class driver Paul DiResta made it 3 in a row in the DTM (German Touring Car Championship) with a convincing win over Audi's Timo Scheider at Hockenheim. This win puts DiResta in the lead of the Driver's Championship over HWA team mate Bruno Spengler who failed to finish. The DTM Manufacturer's Championship is virtually assured for AMG Mercedes, as is the Driver's Championship as the Audi drivers and Teams are now mathematically eliminated with only 2 races remaining in the 2010 DTM season. In future DTM news, old rival BMW has confirmed that they will be joining AMG Mercedes and Audi in the new look 2012 DTM. Some old battles will be resumed between the major high performance German brands.

While the AMG C-Class drivers were having things their own way over at Hockenheim across the country at the Nurburgring in the VLN Endurance series, the SLS AMG GT3 scored its maiden victory in only its second outing. The 4 hour race was won by SLS GT3 test driver Tomas Jager and Christopher Haase in a Black Falcon Racing entered SLS AMG GT3. Another SLS AMG GT3 entered by Mamerow Racing with Bernd Schneider and Chris Mamerow qualified on pole but was eliminated in a crash while running second. A new era in AMG customer racing has started. The SLS GT3's will run one more VLN race this year before an all out attack on the major European endurance racing series' in 2011 with a number of customer team entered cars. Three SLS GT3's are expected at the Dubai 24 Hour Race on January 14-15, 2011.

DTM Hockenheim:
1. Paul DiResta- AMG Driving Academy HWA AMG C-Class DTM
2. Timo Scheider- Abt Sportline Audi A4 DTM
3.Mike Rockenfeller- Phoenix Racing Audi A4 DTM
4.Gary Paffett Salzgitter HWA AMG C-Class DTM
5.Martin Tomczyk- Abt Sportline Audi A4 DTM
6.Oliver Jarvis- Abt Sportline Audi A4 DTM
7.Susie Stoddart- TV Spiel Film Persson Motorsport AMG C-Class DTM
8.Jamie Green- Junge Stern Persson Motorsport AMG C-Class DTM

VLN Nurburgring:
1. Tomas Jager/Christopher Hasse Black Falcon Racing SLS GT3

Hendrick Motors of Charlotte website

Motor Trend Writer Gets Hot Laps in AMG SLS GT3

One of the writers from Motor Trend magazine was let loose in the SLS AMG GT3, check out the link below. Mike Floyd is one of the few journalists in the world to try the new GT racer. He was lucky enough to be one of the few people in the world to experience the new SLS GT3 at racing speed. His hot laps were with Mercedes-Benz test driver Thomas Jager and were amazing. See the link below to check out this article and an accompanying video.

Motor Trend AMG SLS GT3 article

These race cars are available for sale to anyone wishing to obtain one of the few available. Inquire at Hendrick Motors of Charlotte, your exclusive Charlotte area AMG Performance Center. If this is too much car for you then the street legal versions are available for order now also.

History Is Made- The SLS AMG GT3 Takes To The Race Track

Another chapter in the motorsports history of AMG opens this weekend when the SLS AMG GT3 makes its racing debut on the famous Nurburgring in Germany as part of the German VLN Series.

AMG drivers Bernd Schneider and Tomas Jager will handle the driving duties.

Gullwing takes to the racetrack for the first time


Racing debut for the SLS AMG GT3 on the legendary Nürburgring "Nordschleife"

Affalterbach – On Saturday, 25th September 2010 the new SLS AMG GT3 will join the starting lineup on the racetrack for the first time. Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger will be taking part in the four-hour race for the VLN Nürburgring endurance championship. Training for the 42nd ADAC Barbarossa Cup begins at 8.30 a.m. and the race starts at 12.00 noon.

This first racetrack appearance of the SLS AMG GT3 at the VLN event (VLN = Association of Nürburgring Endurance Cup Organisers, with 10 motorsport clubs) is a fixed part of the development and testing programme which commenced in June 2010. The four-hour race on the legendary "Nordschleife" ("North Loop") of the Nürburgring will test the gullwing model under realistic racing conditions. The focus will not only be on fast lap times, but also on the durability of all components, service-friendliness and smooth procedures during pitstops and driver changes. During this race on the 20.8-kilometre long Nürburgring "Nordschleife" – which is acknowledged to be the world's most demanding racetrack – the chosen suspension setup will be assessed under racing conditions for the first time.

Developed according to the GT3 rules of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the SLS AMG GT3 will take to the starting line for the VLN race in prototype class E1-XP.

Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug: "The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 will start a new era in Mercedes-Benz customer motorsports. This car is an exciting and spectacular sporting tool for committed private teams and talented private drivers. Together with our well-proven sports and touring car partner HWA, AMG will establish a customer motorsports department, and ensure the usual high level of Mercedes service for its motorsports customers."

The drivers for this racetrack debut of the SLS AMG GT3 are Bernd Schneider (46) – who has been a Mercedes-Benz works driver for many years and is also an AMG brand ambassador – and Thomas Jäger (33). With five DTM titles, one ITC championship and one FIA GT championship to his name, Bernd Schneider is one of the most successful German racing drivers. Thomas Jäger is the reigning Porsche Carrera Cup (Germany) champion, and drove in the DTM for Mercedes-Benz between 2000 and 2003. This season he is lining up in the ADAC GT-Masters (Germany). Like Bernd Schneider, he is a member of the instructor team at the AMG Driving Academy.

Cooperation between AMG and HWA AG

The racing version of the SLS AMG is being developed and produced by AMG in close cooperation with HWA AG. The HWA team is one of the most successful in international motorsport, as shown by nine driver championships in the DTM and ITC, as well as two championship titles in the FIA GT Championships. No other brand has won as many DTM races and DTM titles as AMG-Mercedes.

Interested racing teams can enter the new SLS AMG GT3 in all race series under the FIA GT3 regulations, for example the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT-Masters and the endurance championship organised by the VLN (Association of Nürburgring Endurance Cup Organisers, with 10 motorsport clubs) as well as the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring or Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).

Orders for the SLS AMG GT3 placed directly with Mercedes-AMG

Orders can be placed directly with Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The sales price is
€ 334,000 (net)/€ 397,460 (incl. 19% VAT). The vehicle is only available with
left-hand drive. Deliveries commence in February 2011, following homologation by the FIA in accordance with the GT3 regulations.

Interested in the street legal version of the AMG SLS or any other new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz vehicle visit us at http://www.hendrickmotorsofcharlotte.com/.

WORLD'S FASTEST 3D CAR FILM. MANX MEISTER TRAILER. F1 TAKES ON TT.

David Couthard drives the AMG SLS supercar on the 37 mile Isle Of Man TT course.

We Are Pleased To Announce The 2010 AMG Driving Academy

As a true performance driving school, the AMG Driving Academy offers participants custom-designed, hands-on lessons in dynamic, high-performance driving by world-class professional driving and racing instructors. Unlike competitive manufacturers’ programs, the AMG Driving Academy is the only program offered coast-to-coast at two of the nation’s premier race tracks: Road Atlanta in Georgia and Laguna Seca Raceway in California.

The AMG Driving Academy will offer three distinct programs this year, pushing participants to the limits of the performance envelope in select AMG vehicles, including the 2011 SLS AMG, the most-advanced AMG vehicle ever built.

Course descriptions are as follows:

Basic ($1,795): Intense, one-day track program focuses on performance driving dynamics. In the morning, participants learn the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises. Once participants perfect car control and handling, they progress in the afternoon to a set of high-speed exercises that make use of the entire track.

Advanced ($3,295): Two-day program picks up where Basic leaves off, providing advanced training and technical on-track instruction. Onboard diagnostics and data capture enable detailed computer analysis and evaluation. Advanced is offered to drivers who have completed either Basic, AMG Challenge, European Driving Academy program or equivalent courses.

Pro ($3,995): The pinnacle of the AMG Driving Academy curriculum, the Pro program offers increased instruction while challenging and improving capabilities and skills to a much greater degree. During the three-day program, participants will train on the legendary Road Atlanta circuit. As speeds increase and skills improve, open lapping provides the maximum challenge and thrill. With an intense curriculum, AMG experienced instructors prepare participants to confidently welcome the challenges of Road Atlanta.

Should you wish to learn more about the AMG Driving Academy, please visit http://www.amgacademy.com/.

Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

2011 SLS AMG Price Released

Relase from MBUSA

April 7, 2010

We are pleased to inform you that the base price of the 2011 SLS AMG was officially announced during last week's Mercedes-Benz press conference at the New York International Auto Show.

2011 SLS AMG MSRP: $183,000*

This price point represents an extremely aggressive position in our endeavor to compete directly with the competitive models from Ferrari and Lamborghini. While the wonderful press reports on the SLS AMG have almost universally estimated a price around $225k, we feel that this sub-$200k price point represents incredible value in this competitive segment.
Proven by its performance statistics, the SLS AMG enters the super sports car segment not just to participate, but to win. What is most impressive is that our new Gullwing flagship delivers this stratospheric level of performance without compromising the refinement, comfort and technology expected of a Mercedes-Benz. It is the everyday supercar.
Launch of the 2011 SLS AMG is still scheduled for early May, 2010.

* price does not include transportation, taxes, dealer prep charges or license fees.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

The victorious Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of 1952 leaves the Mercedes-Benz Museum for Mexico

Joining the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG along a stretch of the original race route

The original winning car from the 3rd Carrera Panamericana Mexico in November 1952 is to return to the scene of its great triumph. The 300 SL racing sport car (W 194) will temporarily be removed from the “Races and Records” display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, in order to join the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and set off once again along a part of the original route through Central America.


The 3rd Carrera Panamericana was one of the top international races of the 1952 season. The double victory achieved by Mercedes-Benz there ranks as one of the brand’s most spectacular successes. Karl Kling and co-driver Hans Klenk won the race, a long-distance event covering 3111 kilometres, against strong international competition at an average speed of 165.011 km/h. Second to cross the finishing line, also driving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, were Hermann Lang and co-driver Erwin Grupp.

Kling’s collision with a vulture at 250 km/h, which left his car with a smashed windscreen and Hans Klenk with head injuries, went into the annals of racing history. In addition to replacing the screen, the mechanics also immediately fitted eight thin vertical metal bars to protect vehicle and driver in the event of a similar collision – still the vehicle’s most distinguishing feature.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

SLS AMG GT3 Race Car Debuts

Mercedes-AMG revealed the SLS AMG GT3 at La Carrera Panamericana in Mexico on March 23, 2010. The race car makes its Auto Show competition debut in New York City.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

Start of Formula 1 Season Upon Us

Don't forget this weekend's opening round of the Formula One World Driving Championship from Bahrain, broadcast live on SPEED channel Sunday, March 14th at 7:30 am EDT, (remember the clocks jump forward this Saturday night), and look for the SLS AMG Safety car sitting proudly at the front of the grid. Catch live coverage of practice at 6:00 am Friday and qualifying Saturday at 7:30 am on SPEED.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

SLS AMG is the new F1 Safety Car

When the new Petronas Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Team, the first factory Mercedes GP Team since 1955, makes its debut at the season opening Bahrain GP on the 14th of March a new AMG car will be sitting at the head of the grid in its position as Official Formula One Safety Car... the SLS AMG.

Driven by our friend and AMG Driving Academy Team member Bernd Maylander, the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car is only modified slightly from the street version that goes on sale in the US this spring.

With 571 hp (DIN) it is the most powerful F1 Safety Car yet in a tradition that goes back to 1994 when AMG supplied the first Safety Car for F1, a C36 AMG. Again created in the AMG Performance Studio the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car features AMG Carbon Ceramic brakes which are also available on the street car. Unfortunately the special LED lighting system is not.

Again for 2010 a C63 AMG Wagon serves as the F1 Medical Car that follows the field around the first lap and is available for quick response to an accident scene during the race as well.

Along with the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car, and C63 AMG Medical Car there will be 6 Mercedes powered race cars in the field:

Petronas Mercedes GP- drivers: Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes- drivers: Lewis Hamilton, World Champion Jenson Button

Force India Mercedes: drivers: Adrian Suthil, Vitantonio Liuzzi with AMG DTM driver Paul Di Resta as reserve driver.

All Formula One races are televised in the US on Speed Channel. Check local listings.

The AMG Teams will be kicking off their season in the DTM at Hockenheim on April 25th.

The AMG and Mercedes-Benz Motorsport tradition continues.

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website

Jay Leno Drives the new SLS AMG

Talk show host Jay Leno is in the SLS AMG in search of Los Angeles’ hidden race track. Leno, who describes himself as a ‘car nut’ was inspired by the short film 'Rendezvous' with a gripping car chase through Paris. With camera angles at a dynamic perspective just over the asphalt the viewer really experiences the ride through the ‘unknown’ side of Los Angeles and the Hollywood hills.

Click here to see the full video:
http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-1124/Jay+Leno%27s+hidden+street+circuit

CLICK HERE for Hendrick Motors of Charlotte Website