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Adrian PatonMercedes-Benz SLS AMG F1 Safety Car
February 28th 2010 18:00
For the past 14 years, Mercedes-Benz AMG has provided the Official Safety Car and Medical Car to the pinnacle of international motorsport - Formula One.
This year, when the new Formula One season kicks-off in Bahrain between March 12-14, 2010, it will mark the debut of the most spectacular and powerful Safety Car of all time - the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The modern iteration of the legendary "gullwing" model replaces the SL 63 AMG, which was used as the Safety Car in 2008 and 2009. As in the last two years, the C 63 AMG Estate will be used as the Medical Car for the coming season.
"Together with the entire AMG Team, I am very proud that the new SLS AMG is the official F1 safety car. I'm sure all Mercedes and AMG fans will be excited to see the gullwing model together with the new Mercedes GP Petronas Team at the F1 circuits," says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
Powered by a 6.3-litre V8 engine with a peak output of 420 kW and 650 Nm, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has the best possible credentials for this demanding role in the top flight of motor racing. Able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, fast lap times are a must as to avoid Formula One cars tyres and brakes cooling down too quickly, or overheating the engines.
The Safety Car version of the SLS features the same engine, power transmission, suspension and brake system as the standard-production SLS AMG. The exceptional technology package for the super sports car ensures perfect driving dynamics and means that no further technical modifications or lightweight-design measures are necessary, with the sole exception of the all-new rear silencer, which allows the high-revving AMG V8 naturally aspirated engine to breathe more easily and offers Formula-1 fans an even more emotionally charged sound experience.
Compared to the standard-production SLS, the Safety Car version is distinguishable on the outside by its prominent F1 logos, carbon-fibre exterior mirrors and the characteristic roof light bar with integrated TV camera. It sits on an all-new carbon-fibre hood whose shape has been tested in the wind tunnel to ensure optimum airflow at the rear aerofoil. The aerofoil pops up when the car reaches 120 km/h and, together with the rear diffuser, provides the necessary rear downforce. LEDs are used for all light functions for the first time in the new, aerodynamically styled roof light bar. Their advantages over the previously used bulbs lie in their extremely fast response time and low power consumption.
The two centrally positioned green lights in the aerodynamically optimised light bar are illuminated when the Safety Car joins the field and first needs to overtake all the racing cars in front of it. Once the SLS AMG has assumed the leading position, the outer orange flashing lights are switched on to signal to the Formula-1 drivers that no overtaking whatsoever is allowed. The white stroboscopic lights in the headlamps and tail lights perform a general signalling function in that they always flash whilst the safety car is deployed. A special number plate at the rear, with "Safety Car" lettering and 700 LEDs, provides additional safety in darkness or wet weather. A reversing camera is integrated to the left of the number plate, allowing those in the cockpit of the Official F1TM Safety Car to keep an eye on the Formula-1 cars behind via monitor.
Two central monitors in the SLS AMG cockpit are used to monitor the progress of the race. To the left and right of the lower monitor are the controls for the radio system, which allows co-pilots Bernd Mayländer and Pete Tibbetts to communicate with Race Control as well as with each other. A second interior mirror lets the co-driver keep an eye on the Formula-1 cars behind. Meanwhile, the "Marshalling System" is integrated in the central display on the instrument cluster and in the lid of the glove compartment: here the driver and co-driver can see exactly the same signals as the Formula-1 drivers in their cockpits. For instance, the various LEDs indicate when yellow or green flags are being waved. LEDs indicating the status of the roof light bar, along with an on-board camera angled towards Bernd Mayländer, are mounted at the front end of the dashboard.
[Source: Formula 1]
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