1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK LM Straßenversion

In the 1997 season, Mercedes-Benz in cooperation with AMG entered GT racing and competed in the FIA GT championship. The CLK-GTR developed for this purpose was the first production racing car from Mercedes-Benz with a mid-engine. Externally the vehicle was inspired by the CLK Coupé of the C 208 model series, but it featured advanced racing technology and its V12 engine developed around 441 kW (600 hp) with a displacement of six litres. Bernd Schneider won the driver’s title of the 1997 FIA GT championship in the CLK-GTR, while the brand championship went to AMG-Mercedes. From June in the following year, the further developed CLK-LM equipped with a V8 engine entered the lists. The CLK-LM won every championship race in which it competed, and by season’s end Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta had captured the driver’s title, while AMG-Mercedes again won the manufacturer’s title.

In Detail

submitted by	Richard Owen
type	One Of
production	1
engine	V8
displacement	5000 cc / 305.1 in³
power	447.4 kw / 600 bhp
specific output	120.0 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	638.3 bhp per tonne
body / frame	Carbon Fibre
driven wheels	Mid Engine / RWD
front brakes	6-Piston Carbon Fibre Discs
steering	Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
curb weight	940 kg / 2072 lbs
wheelbase	2670 mm / 105.1 in
length	4900 mm / 192.9 in
width	1999 mm / 78.7 in
height	1119 mm / 44.1 in
transmission	6-Speed Manual