Mercedes-AMG Explains the How the GT Black Series Set a New Record
Ever wondered what it takes to set a record at the Nürburgring? Mercedes shares the journey of the AMG GT Black Series, as it dominates the historic race track!
Mercedes-Benz is offering a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of the AMG GT Black Series as it sets a new lap record for unmodified serial production vehicles at the historic Nürburgring in Germany. During the video, the presenter is joined by Mercedes-AMG’s Vehicle Dynamics engineer Markus Ager, who explains why the Tri-Star brand chose Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series as its contender for this daunting challenge.
There are plenty of features that distinguish the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series from the standard GTR. “We made changes to basically everything. A few highlights: We took out some weight. Our colleagues in the powertrain team packed in the power. The chassis was completely redesigned. The tires are even sportier. And all of this was combined as part of our driving dynamics integration process. This GT Black Series is a perfectly balanced vehicle, harmony at the highest level.”
The AMG GT Black Series covered the 12.8-mile stretch of the Nürburgring with ease, even though there were a few wet patches on the track. The car set a new lap record for production cars at 6:43.61. Merc’s offering features a drivetrain, which is completely different from most of the previous record holders. The all-new GT Black Series gets a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout and comes equipped with adjustable aerodynamics and suspension settings.
A 4-liter biturbo V8 engine sits under the hood of the GT Black Series which generates 720 HP of power. During its record run, the car rode on tires that were specially designed by Michelin for this particular challenge. These tires are different from the Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Mercedes original (MO) rubber that the company offers as standard on the new GT Black Series.
The car was piloted by Mercedes AMG racing driver Maro Engel who also explained the various adjustments that were made to the car before the run. The GT black series comes equipped with an extendable front splitter, which enhances the car’s aerodynamics, and a three-way adjustable dual-pane spoiler at the rear that improves the downforce of the RWD supercar.
Engel also shared his comments on the car’s performance, “from the first day I drove this car, I was absolutely impressed. It’s so much fun, it’s got so much grip, it’s so precise.” He further adds, “the possibility to adjust it to your personal wishes in terms of the setup is really fantastic.”