Mercedes-Benz SLS GT3 (2013)

The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 was the first GT class race car to be produced by the marque since the infamous CLK GTR. It was built to compete in the still relatively new GT3 class which featured Balance of Performance. In 2010, the Mercedes SLS GT3 debuted and became the 28th model sanctioned for racing in the GT3 class.

Due to the balance of performance, cars in the class tended to adopt a philosophy either biased towards high power output or lower weight. In contrast to the compact, nimble 3.8 litre Porsche, the Mercedes prescribed to a power and torque focussed philosophy, featuring the venerable M159 6.2 Litre V8 – which is still being used in the Mercedes GT3 in the present day, and of course still featuring gullwing doors.

The model was successful and desirable, with highlights including Winning at the Nürburgring in the VLN series in only its second race, as well as victory at the 2012 and 2013 Dubai 24 Hour.

The SLS’s silhouette is emblazoned into the memories of racing fans everywhere, and the thunderous soundtrack of the M159 is still heard across circuits across the globe in the current AMG GT3 Evo.