The new Mercedes-AMG GT R is the most powerful Official FIA Formula 1 Safety of all time. It will make its debut at the Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia from March 22 to 25. The top-of-the-line model in the AMG GT range will be used for all 20 of the 2018 Formula 1 races. Mercedes-AMG has been the official Formula 1 pace car supplier for 23 years since the first C 36 AMG safety car in 1996.

Never before has Mercedes-AMG packed so much motorsport technology into a production vehicle as they have with the AMG GT R. The 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine generates 585 hp and has a top speed of 318 km/h 197 mph). The AMG GT R has the driving dynamics of the AMG GT3 race car, which was developed at the “Green Hell” of the Nürburgring race track.

“I am very much looking forward to my new company car,” said Bernd Mayländer, driver of the Official FIA F1 Safety 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. 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.”

Wide front and rear wings allow an increased track width for increased grip and higher cornering speeds. The front apron with AIRPANEL active air control system and the active aerodynamics profile in the underbody, the large rear aerofoil and the rear apron with double diffuser increase the aerodynamic efficiency and help ensure increased grip. The lightweight forged wheels, active rear-wheel steering, the nine-way adjustable traction control system and the adjustable coil-over suspension with additional electronic control all add to the cars performance capability.

The requirement profile of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) for the Official FIA F1 Safety Car is that is must be able to maintain a minimum speed level to prevent the tires and brakes of the Formula 1 cars from cooling and the engines from overheating. The GT R has racetrack performance and only a few modifications to transform it from a street legal road car to the Official FIA F1 Safety Car of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The AMG Track Package with roll-over protection system and the ceramic high-performance compound braking system are optional extras. The ceramic brakes have a lower weight, longer service life and even better fade resistance.

The most noticeable difference from the road car to the Safety Car is the FIA and F1 car film and the light bar on the roof. The light bar is positioned on a carbon-fibre air scoop that is designed to produce the least possible air resistance and provide for an aerodynamically optimised flow of air towards the rear aerofoil. The positioning and design of the carbon-fibre air scoop and the light bar are the result of extensive wind tunnel tests.

While Official FIA F1 Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer focuses on the track and at the same time keeps an eye on the field in the rear-view mirror, co-driver Richard Darker maintains radio contact with race control. Richard Darker monitors the Formula 1 cars via two iPads. One shows the international TV broadcast the other can feature either an animated display of the current position of the cars or show current lap times. Data management for the visual communication solutions is handled by an InCar Hotspot with WLAN wireless network.

“When a Safety Car intervention is required during a Grand Prix it’s vitally important that we have full confidence in the car’s ability to lead the Formula 1 cars around the track safely,” said Charlie Whiting, FIA F1 Director. “That means we need a car which is not only capable of dealing with the extreme demands a Grand Prix circuit puts on a vehicle travelling at high speed, but also one which is capable of setting a pace that allows the F1 drivers to keep tyres and brakes working at the right kind of temperature so that they do not struggle while waiting for racing to resume. With the latest versions of the FIA F1 Medical and Safety Cars, that confidence is once again assured.”

Mercedes-AMG are also the official supplier of the C 63 S station wagon medical car. It is crewed by up to three medics. The driver is Alan van der Merwe and his co-driver is FIA F1 deputy medical delegate Dr Ian Roberts. The rear seats accommodate one or two assistant medics from a selected specialist hospital near the particular racetrack. The C 63 S wagon is fitted with four sports bucket seats including six-point seat belts. Radio equipment enables communication with race control. To enable monitoring of racing activities, two iPads including InCar Hotspot and WLAN wireless network are also installed in the cockpit. The 490-litre luggage compartment safely accommodates the full complement of emergency equipment, including defibrillator and respirator.

The Official FIA F1 Medical Car follows the Formula 1 field on the starting lap, as the racing cars are grouped particularly closely together in this critical phase of the race. In the event of an incident, the medics are thus able to reach the scene of the accident as quickly as possible and administer first aid immediately. During the race, the Official FIA F1 Medical Car is lined up alongside the Official FIA F1 Safety Car in the pits lane. The medical car is also equipped with a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine which produces 510 hp and has the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission, dynamic engine mounts and the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential are on the same high level as the street-going version.