SLS AMG GT3 meets stringent safety standards
Apr 01, 2011
Ready for the 2011 VLN season, with exemplary levels of safety
Affalterbach – The SLS AMG GT3 embarks on its first racing season on Saturday, 2 April 2011, as the start of the new VLN season (Nürburgring Endurance Championships) kicks off. Six customer teams will be competing on the North Loop with the racing version of the gull-wing model.
The SLS AMG GT3 is perfectly prepared for use on the racetrack, as its safety concept transfers the exemplary safety level of Mercedes-Benz on road models to the racetrack. Extensive, sophisticated crash tests and trials have confirmed these high standards.
The development of the SLS AMG GT3 focused on the greatest possible protection for the driver in the event of an accident. The structural safety of the aluminium spaceframe, combined with direct protection of the driver against impact loads and fire protection, offers outstanding outcomes in this regard.
The bucket seat of the SLS AMG GT3 is positioned within a safety cell of high-strength CFRP (carbon-fibre reinforced plastic) as in the DTM cars from Mercedes-Benz. The safety cell, bolted to the rollover cage and the aluminium spaceframe, provides considerably higher protection for the driver's shoulders, hips and legs. It’s compatible with the HANS system (Head and Neck Support), which helps to prevent serious head, neck and spinal injuries, and is mandatory in many race series.
The rollover cage of high-strength steel is also bolted to the aluminium spaceframe and gives this further rigidity, while the 20-litre CFRP safety fuel tank is located directly over the rear axle for optimal crash protection, and features an elastic inner fuel bladder.
The SLS AMG GT3 underwent numerous crash tests at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center in Sindelfingen – where the passive safety features of all series-production AMG and Mercedes-Benz models are also developed and tested.
The safety specialists carried out three crash tests and a static test with the racing version of the gull-wing model: a front, side and rear impact plus a roof deformation test. All the test configurations were specifically chosen to reflect typical racetrack accident situations as closely as possible.
Other safety features include four pyrotechnical elements on the hinges of the gull-wing doors – standard in every series-production SLS AMG. These allow a rapid exit for the driver, or fast access by emergency personnel, should the vehicle be lying on its roof after an accident, by releasing two roof hinges retaining each of the two gull-wing doors.
The SLS AMG GT3 also has polycarbonate side windows which can be easily removed by the driver or emergency personnel after an accident.
The driver is also well protected in the event of a fire, with flame-retardant material and an effective fire extinguisher system preventing or putting out fires in the engine compartment and interior. Using a switch on the centre console and a ring attached to the windscreen, the system can be activated by the driver or by emergency personnel.
All the tests conducted by the Mercedes-Benz safety specialists are more stringent by far than those prescribed for racing cars by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). As a result, the SLS AMG GT3 achieves an exemplary level of safety that is at present probably unmatched by any other GT3 car.
Eight SLS AMG GT3s competing in the first VLN race on 2 April 2011
The eight SLS AMG GT3s taking part in the first race of the VLN season have been entered exclusively by private teams. At the 58th ADAC Westphalia race on Saturday, 2 April 2011, Black Falcon will take part with three cars while Mamerow Racing, Heico Motorsport, Horn Motorsport, ROWE RACING and Race & Events GmbH will be at the starting line with one gull-wing each. Training begins at 8:30 a.m., and the race starts at 12:00 noon. During the development and test programme the SLS AMG GT3 already demonstrated its potential: with one victory and one third place in the VLN races held in autumn 2010, the Black Falcon and Mamerow Racing teams were immediately able to establish themselves among the top GT3 contenders.
The ten races of the new season will be held exclusively on the North Loop
of the Nürburgring and the short link to the Grand Prix circuit. The VLN Nürburgring Endurance Championship has been held since 1977, and is seen as Europe's most successful broad-based motorsport series. It has created a loyal following for itself with a wide variety of competitors, easily accessible paddocks and low entry prices. The colourful lineup, with different vehicle models ranging from near-series compact cars to recent classics and right up to thoroughbred super-sports cars, guarantees fast-changing and exciting races. Depending on the event, more than 190 racing cars can be at the starting line. The races take between four and six hours.
All the VLN races at a glance:
• 2 April 2011 58th ADAC Westphalia race
• 30 April 2011 36th DMV 4-hour race
• 14 May 2011 42nd Adenauer ADAC Circuit Trophy
• 28 May 2011 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R Cup
• 11 June 2011 51st ADAC Reinoldus endurance race
• 30 July 2011 34th RCM DMV Grenzland race
• 27 August 2011 ADAC Ruhr Trophy six-hour race
• 24 September 2011 43rd ADAC Barbarossa Prize
• 15 October 2011 35th DMV 250-mile race
• 29 October 2011 36th DMV Münsterland Trophy
• 10 December 2011 VLN annual prizegiving
More information about the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 may be found at: www.mercedes-amg.com/slsgt3
Contact our toll free number on 0800 133 355