Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 Crashes at Racetrack Premiere

A video revealing an accident involving the new SLS AMG GT3 during its first racing appearance has surfaced on the web these days, courtesy to a video from the Frikadelli Racing Team. The onboard camera fitted on the team’s Porsche racecar which was driving behind the SLS AMG GT3 caught the moment on tape.

It appears the gullwing racecar driven by Bernd Schneider, five-time DTM Champion and now an AMG brand ambassador, crashed into Christian Hohenadel's Corvette during the first lap of the race, causing both cars to stop.

Here is how Mercedes-Benz details the incident: “Schneider was already in second place by the first bend, however contact with the leading car on the second bend caused him to spin and collide with the following car After a 25-minute break for repairs, Bernd Schneider returned to the race three laps behind the leaders, and was able to hold his own without problems in the lineup of GT3 cars.”

The race was eventually ended after 3 hours and 8 minutes due to the numerous accidents, in a moment when the gullwing was positioned in 91st place, three laps behind.

"I think that despite my accident during the starting lap, we were able to show the potential of the gullwing. The SLS AMG GT3 feels great, and makes very satisfactory lap times possible. Even on the demanding North Loop at Nürburgring, the car drives very well," Schneider stated after the race.

The four-hour race for the VLN Nurburgring endurance championship was a fixed part of the development and testing program for the SLS AMG GT3. It was intended to test the gullwing model under realistic racing conditions. The focus was not only on fast lap times, but also on the durability of all components, as well as on procedures during pitstops and driver changes.