The 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Straßenversion could possibly be thought-about some of the exceptionally radical racing automobiles ever envisioned by the automotive producer. A mere 25 models of those automobiles had been manufactured by AMG, and these highway automobiles had been constructed to stick to the rules of the FIA GT1 class. This explicit class gave rise to a number of the most exceedingly excessive sports activities automobiles within the trade, together with notable names just like the Porsche 911 GT1 and McLaren F1.

Though the 1999 GT1 class was cancelled, Mercedes-Benz had already promised 25 road-going homologation variations to prospects and was obliged to supply these. Buyer automobiles featured a 6.9-litre V12 which produced 604bhp, bestowing the GTR with ballistic efficiency – 0-60mph took 3.8 seconds, on the way in which to a high velocity of 214mph.

This got here at a steep value; regardless of comforts being stored to a minimal in an effort to avoid wasting each weight and value, the manufacturing CLK GTR was listed on the time as the costliest manufacturing automotive ever constructed within the Guinness Guide of World Data, costing $1,547,620.

In 1999, Mercedes-Benz had been because of race a CLR – a track-focused model of the CLK GTR – at Le Mans, till in qualifying on the again straight of the Circuit du Sarthe Mark Webber’s automotive took off, flipping a number of instances because it tumbled into the bushes. Within the race itself, a second comparable incident happened whereas Peter Dumbreck was on the wheel, main Mercedes to withdraw from the occasion and transfer away from sports activities automotive racing.

Picture Supply: RM Sotheby’s