Mercedes-AMG GT R Is One Powerful F1 Safety Car

Here’s a cool dream gig—driving the official Mercedes-AMG GT R FIA Safety Car for the current 2018 Formula 1 season.

The sporty silver and black coupe will make its debut at the World Championship at the Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia this week.

You’ll see this car on all 20 race weekends, says Mercedes. The monstrous GT R packs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that produces 585 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

We’ve tested a GT R running from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and Mercedes reports a top speed of 198 mph. So it ought to be able to hold its own while it is out on track duty.

Mercedes claims it’s “the most powerful and fastest Official FIA F1 Safety Car of all time.”

“I am very much looking forward to my new company car. It is an absolute highlight in terms of driving dynamics and is one level higher up still than the AMG GT S of recent years,” said driver Bernd Mayländer, in a statement.

“Of course, ideally the safety car should be deployed as rarely as possible—but when we have to safely bunch up the Formula 1 field and lead it around the track, we will be superbly equipped with the AMG GT R.”

For the big race, the Mercedes-AMG GT R remains pretty much stock and gets a light bar on the roof and a carbon-fiber air scoop to lead the Formula 1 cars around the track safely.

In addition to the GT R safety car, a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate is the official FIA F1 medical car.

The C 63 S Estate is crewed by racing driver Alan van der Merwe, and his co-driver is FIA F1 deputy medical delegate Dr. Ian Roberts. The two will help provide emergency care during the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

Tune in on March 22 to catch the cars at the Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Source: Daimler

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