Mercedes-Benz at Le Mans Classic 2022 June 30-July 3

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194). Start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 14/15 June 1952. In the middle, the eventual winners Hermann Lang / Fritz Riess (starting number 21); in front, the eventual runners-up Theo Helfrich / Helmut Niedermayr (starting number 20). Karl Kling / Hans Klenk (rear, starting number 22) dropped out of the race. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: 55461)

 

The brand’s motor racing successes in France since 1894: this is the theme of Mercedes-Benz Classic’s extensive presence at the Le Mans Classic 2022. The event will take place from 30 June to 3 July 2022 on the original site of the “24 Hours of Le Mans” and will celebrate the history of this most famous endurance race in the world. With more than twenty vehicles from all eras of the brand’s history, former racing drivers and numerous other attractions, Mercedes-Benz Classic is offering visitors a varied programme. One focus is on “70 Years of the SL” – with the double victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952 as an important milestone both in the history of the legendary sports car and in the motorsport history of the brand. Mercedes-Benz is the Official Sponsor of the Le Mans Classic.

The tenth edition of the Le Mans Classic, launched in 2002 by Peter Auto and organised in collaboration with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, offers an impressive review of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With 800 racing cars on the track, 8,500 historic cars on display and numerous club presentations, it is one of the largest classic events in the world. The competitions will take place in line-ups arranged by era, and of course also continue through the night – in other words, with a real long-distance spirit. Part of the attraction for participants and visitors alike is the dress code: “sporty chic” from all eras is desired and gives the Le Mans Classic a casual elegance in addition to the motorsport flair. With each edition, the event has attracted more fans. Most recently, around 195,000 visitors came in 2018.

Double victory at Le Mans some 70 years ago

Some 70 years ago, Mercedes-Benz achieved an outstanding triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: a double victory. On 15 June 1952, two 300 SL racing sports cars (W 194) crossed the finish line one after the other. This and other double, triple and quadruple victories put the first SL directly in the limelight in the 1952 season and at the same time positioned the brand back on the stage of international motorsport after the Second World War. This initial spark gave rise to the production version, the 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198), just two years later. The fascination with the SL has remained unbroken ever since and has continued to develop successfully over seven decades. Today, the new Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232), developed entirely by AMG, transports the genes of the SL legend into the future.

At Le Mans, Mercedes-Benz Classic will celebrate the SL history with numerous vehicles, from the original W 194 dating from 1952 to the latest generation, the Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232) presented in 2021. Other early SL models will complete the presentation: the 300 SL “Gullwing”, 300 SL Roadster and the 300 SLS motorsport version (all W 198). In addition, media representatives will have access to a driving pool of SLs from all eras plus additional vehicles to mark the anniversaries of “50 years of the S-Class 116 series” and the “40 years of the Mercedes-Benz W 201”, which can be driven on routes outside the event grounds.

A highlight at the Mercedes-Benz Classic stand right next to a current Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ (total fuel consumption (WLTP) (combined): 13.0–12.5 l/100 km; total CO2 emissions (WLTP (combined): 294-282 g/km) will be a 300 SL Roadster (W 198) dating from 1960. The vehicle comes from the Mercedes-Benz Classic sales offer. It has undergone a factory restoration and is in top condition. The Roadster is finished in the rare colour combination of Mercedes blue with red leather and a light grey soft top, while the hardtop is painted in the body colour.

Original vehicles in action and on display

Among other things, the 300 SL racing sports car will once again be in action on the race track at Le Mans Classic. The silver Coupé will put in an appearance at the Mercedes-Benz Classic stand to round off the presentation of other original vehicles and exhibits relating to the brand’s motorsport successes in France. Highlights of the motorsport history in France include:

• Daimler two-cylinder engine, 1894. The first automobile competition in history in July 1894 from Paris to Rouen was won by vehicles with this engine, manufactured under licence by Panhard & Levassor.

• Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp, 1902. In the years 1901 to 1903, Mercedes dominated with this model, among others, in the “Weeks of Nice” with high-profile motorsport competitions.

• Mercedes Grand Prix racing car, 1914. In the 750-kilometre race for the 1914 French Grand Prix in Lyon, Christian Lautenschlager, Louis Wagner and Otto Salzer achieved a triumphant triple victory in cars of this model.

• Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194). At the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952, Hermann Lang / Fritz Riess and Theo Helfrich / Helmut Niedermayr achieved a double victory for the brand in this model.

• Mercedes-Benz Formula One racing car W 196 R with streamlined body. It was in this Silver Arrow that Mercedes-Benz returned to Grand Prix racing in 1954 after an interruption of 15 years. In the car’s very first race on 4 July 1954 in Rheims, Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling posted a spectacular one-two finish. Following three more victories, Fangio finished the season as Formula One World Champion.

• Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W 201) “Supertourisme”. From 1985 to 1987, Snobeck Racing Service (SRS) entered the sixteen-valve model in the French Touring Car Championship. These entries also paved the way for Mercedes-Benz to return to motorsport. From 1988, SRS also competed in the DTM as a development team with the 190 E 2.3-16.

• Sauber-Mercedes C 9 Group C racing sports car. On 11 June 1989, this Silver Arrow took a one-two in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Stanley Dickens / Jochen Mass / Manuel Reuter; Kenny Acheson / Mauro Baldi / Gianfranco Brancatelli). Another vehicle came in fifth place. At the end of the season, Jean-Louis Schlesser won the drivers’ title in the World Sports Car Championship in the C 9.

• McLaren-Mercedes MP4-15. Driving the MP4-15 designed for the 2000 Formula One season, Mika Häkkinen won four races out of 17 Grands Prix. David Coulthard achieved three victories, including the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours – a one-two victory with Mika Häkkinen.

• Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+ Formula One racing car, 2018. This car led the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team to its fifth double triumph in a row. Lewis Hamilton drove to his fifth drivers’ world championship, and the team secured the constructors’ world championship once again. Lewis Hamilton won the French Grand Prix in June 2018 in the F1 W09 EQ Power+.

Racing driver interviews and engine start-ups

The brand’s varied programme in terms of vehicle presentations includes interviews with former racing drivers Ellen Lohr, Klaus Ludwig, Jochen Mass, Kurt Thiim and Karl Wendlinger. What were their biggest successes for the brand? In which vehicles? How did they experience Mercedes-Benz in their time? These, among others, are the questions that they will face. Those wishing to delve deeper into the motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz in France can take part in stand tours around the vehicles. Three racing cars from three eras will be allowed to sound out there regularly: the engines of the Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car and Sauber-Mercedes C 9 will be regularly started for demonstration purposes. A “Pitstop Challenge” with a timed wheel change on an original DTM vehicle, as well as racing simulators, will round off the programme at the Mercedes-Benz Classic stand. And those wanting to look out onto the race track from there will find space in the deckchairs with a view of the action on the circuit.