The first entry was the E 63 AMG. The car did not pass unnoticed, as it was the first model's first show in Australia. During the five days of rally, the car was piloted by a selection of drivers like the five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan and some selected motoring journalists.
The C 63 AMG was another one of Mercedes-Benz’s entries in the rally. The car was also driven by MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, who normally drives a 600 horsepower V12-powered S 65 AMG, so he was used to the power.
Mercedes-Benz’s third entry was the E 500 coupe, driven by Vern Schuppan, the patron of the annual Classic Adelaide rally, winner of the 1983 Le Mans 24-hour endurance race and former Formula 1, Indy Car and Sports Car racer.
The last and most stunning of the Mercedes-Benz entries was a Vito 120 CDI. The car, driven by motoring journalist James Stanford and tarmac rally driver Peter Gazzard, astonished everyone present when it caught and passed a Porsche 911 Turbo on a special stage, during the rally’s second day.
“This is the first (and possibly) only time that a van has participated in Classic Adelaide and it proved to be the surprise of the event,” said David McCarthy, senior manager of corporate communications at Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific. “It not only generated Mexican waves from spectators but it attracted attention at each of the rally’s scheduled stops as if it was a Mr Whippy van! The suitably sign-written Vito was disparagingly called a mobile billboard by some entrants but they soon ate their words! Those competitors had ample chance to read the 5-Star ANCAP safety message on the back of Vito as it passed more than a few of them on some of the special stages,” he added.
Google News