Mercedes-Benz at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Concours, July 9, 2025

Royal Automobile Club Concours (9 July 2025): Inaugural event in Woodcote Park near London

One day before the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Mercedes-Benz Classic presented the W 196 R together with the 300 SLR (W 196 S) at the first Club Concours of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC). The RAC was founded in 1897 as the Automobile Club of Great Britain & Ireland by Frederick Simms, a business partner of Gottlieb Daimler. The Concours took place at Woodcote Park (Epsom).

The Mercedes-Benz Classic cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed

• Mercedes-Benz W 125 (1937): The latest development stage of the Grand Prix racing cars in the 750-kilogram formula produces 435 kW (592 hp). Rudolf Caracciola became European Champion with the W 125 in 1937. The title is comparable to the Formula 1 World Championship today.
• Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194, 1952): Mercedes-Benz returned to motorsport in the 1952 season with the 300 SL racing sports car. The instantly successful competition vehicle is based on the legendary 300 SL (W 198) production sports car.
• Mercedes-Benz W 196 R (1954 and 1955): The first Formula 1 racing car from Mercedes-Benz was used with open wheels or streamlined bodywork. Juan Manuel Fangio became Formula 1 World Champion in the W 196 R in 1954 and 1955.
• Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR racing sports car (W 196 S, 1955): The sports car prototype has numerous technical parallels to the W 196 R. However, it is powered by a 3-litre in-line eight-cylinder engine (228 kW/310 hp). The victory of Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson in the 1955 Mille Miglia with the best time ever achieved in this road race was outstanding.
• Mercedes-Benz C 11 (1990): The racing prototype with up to 735 kW (1,000 hp) dominated the Sports Car World Championship in 1990. In addition to the manufacturers’ title, Jean-Louis Schlesser and Mauro Baldi won the drivers’ title. The carbon fibre chassis was developed by the racing team of Swiss national Peter Sauber, which also raced the C 11.
• Mercedes-Benz C 111-II (1970): The breathtaking C 111 super sports car was created as an experimental vehicle for testing the Wankel engine. In 2024, after decades, Mercedes-Benz Classic returned a C 111-II with an original four-disc Wankel engine to running order. The extraordinary engine produces 257 kW (350 hp). The top speed of the car is 300 km/h.
• Mercedes-Benz racing car express transporter (1955): This one-off vehicle was built for the 1955 season and used for logistics between the factory and the race track at speeds of up to 170 km/h. Its engine came from the 300 SL (W 198). The blue paintwork, top speed and aesthetic design earned the race transporter the nickname “Blaues Wunder” (“Blue Wonder”). At Goodwood, it was on display with a Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Formula 1 racing car on the loading bed.