German Car Scene

SLS AMG GT3 driver following in his father’s footsteps

Posted 26th July, 2011 in Mercedes-Benz, Motorsport | Leave a comment

This weekend, at Spa-Francorchamps, will be an extra special occasion for team Black Falcon driver Kenneth Heyer and his Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Not only will his gullwing racer be wearing the same colour and number as his father’s Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, but 2011 also marks the 40th anniversary of Hans Heyer’s class victory in the legendary 24-hour race.

The 300 SEL 6.3 was the basis for the AMG racing saloon. Producing 250 hp, and with a top speed of 220 km/h, this stunning saloon enjoyed the accolade of Germany’s fastest series-production car in its day. Its modern-day counterpart, the SLS AMG GT3, seems much more brutal in comparison, more of a weapon than a car. The SLS AMG is powered by an AMG 6.3-litre V8 unit, based on the road car’s engine.

“40 years after our class victory and second overall place, I think it is a great idea to enter the Spa-Francorchamps race with the SLS AMG GT3 in the same look as “my” 300 SEL 6.8 AMG,” said Hans Heyer.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]