Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the AMG GT3, ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
Developed to comply with the FIA's GT3 race rules, the high-performance race car will compete in the world's most hotly contested customer race series. Following an intensive test phase, the the AMG GT3 will be shipped to the first customer teams at the end of 2015.
As in the standard AMG GT, the structure of the GT3 consists of a very lightweight yet extremely rigid aluminium spaceframe, offering outstanding protection for the driver. The driver is further protected by the resilient carbon-fibre seat pan and an integral roll-over cage made from high-tensile steel. In order to reduce the vehicle weight further still, the engine cover, doors, front wing, front and rear aprons, sidewalls, side skirts, diffuser and boot lid are all made from particularly lightweight yet high-strength carbon fiber.
Powerful acceleration is ensured by the seasoned and now further enhanced AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine taken from the SLS AMG GT3. User-friendly technology, excellent reliability, long maintenance intervals and the high-revving naturally aspirated engine with low running costs made it the engine of choice for the new AMG customer sports model. The six-speed sequential racing gearbox for the GT3 is - as is the case in the standard GT - mounted in a transaxle configuration on the rear axle, thereby facilitating optimum weight distribution. They also have double-wishbone suspension - made almost entirely from aluminium - in common. These solutions once again demonstrate how closely linked regular production technology and racing technology are at AMG.
