Press Release
Development and testing
Proving its mettle in the �Green Hell�
- Over 20,000 kilometres of testing on various race circuits
- A further 30,000 kilometres of extended road testing under everyday conditions
- Development work in the wind tunnel focuses on aerodynamic fine-tuning
It was during the highly successful 2003 DTM season, in which Bernd Schneider drove his CLK to the drivers’ title, that plans were drawn up for a road-going Mercedes-AMG off-shoot of the race-specification car. The brief was to create an AMG masterpiece whose styling and driving characteristics were both modelled on the championship-winning car in the popular touring car series.
With an outline design brief on the table, the team of engineers could begin their work. The first stage of the project involved building a design prototype based on the Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG and blending characteristic elements of the DTM race car into the silhouette of the standard production car. Various different variants were discussed, evaluated, produced and redesigned before, after exhaustive testing in the wind tunnel, the team agreed on a conclusive design.
Exacting test bench programme for the AMG 5.5-litre V8 supercharged engine
At the same time, the engineers and technicians were working on the construction and testing programme for the AMG 5.5-litre V8 supercharged engine, AMG SPEEDSHIFT drive system and the new chassis. The 428 kW/582-hp AMG eight-cylinder power unit was first subjected to several tests on the test bench. These included carrying out analysis of the basic mechanical functions, inspections of the oil and water circuits and checks of the low-temperature water circuit, as well as advancing through the various different development variants of camshafts, and intake airflow, charge pressure and electronic engine management systems.
The knowledge gained from this round of testing served as a constant point of reference in the further development of the different engine components, which started life as hand-made prototype parts. At a later stage, the ready-for-production components could then be put through various extended tests in order to ensure a high level of quality.
Bernd Schneider, Klaus Ludwig and Markus Winkelhock take on the role of test drivers
The first ready-to-drive prototype of the CLK DTM AMG lined up shortly afterwards and made its debut appearance on the Hockenheimring race circuit. Current DTM drivers Bernd Schneider and Markus Winkelhock took it in turns with former Mercedes-Benz pilot Klaus Ludwig to take the wheel of the fledgling car. The professional drivers were immediately impressed by the potential of the AMG Coupé and supplied the engineers and technicians responsible with some valuable feedback on the engine, AMG SPEEDSHIFT automatic transmission, chassis set-up and brakes.
A further wave of development models were produced back in Affalterbach and sent out on test tracks and race circuits to prove their mettle. The Nürburgring Nordschleife and the Hockenheimring in Germany were joined on the schedule by the Jerez circuit and Idiada test track in Spain, with the CLK DTM AMG given an exacting workout and subjected to some thorough inspections. On many occasions, it shared the spotlight with the new C-Class racing touring car, which was undergoing preparations for the 2004 season in the DTM.
Endurance test on the Nürburgring’s legendary Nordschleife circuit
The toughest test of all was undoubtedly the challenge posed by the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit. Completed in 1927, the legendary race-track subjected the car and its constituent components to the sternest possible examination. 20.8 kilometres of blind crests, long straights, inclines and descents, as well as corners of every conceivable radius have earned the Nordschleife a reputation as the world’s most demanding circuit – and the nickname �the Green Hell�.
The sudden changes in weather for which the Nordschleife is famous were a constant companion for the test drivers as they worked on the settings for the chassis, brakes, tyres, ESP® and ASR. Sporadic rain showers played havoc with the friction coefficient of the road surface, inadvertently creating the ideal conditions for the development of the CLK DTM AMG. The test car had to complete a total of some 10,000 kilometres of full-load testing on the Nürburgring.
30,000 kilometres of extended testing on a range of roads under everyday conditions
In addition to the total of 20,000 kilometres of testing clocked up on the various race-tracks, the development programme also included 30,000 kilometres of trials on a range of different public roads. In line with the standardised DaimlerChrysler endurance testing guidelines, the CLK DTM AMG had to reel off a precisely defined series of tests in city traffic, country roads and motorways. All with the aim of checking and fine-tuning the car’s components under everyday conditions.
The countless kilometres of testing had left the experienced track stars in no doubt that the extensive development and testing programme for the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG had been worthwhile. �This high-performance road car exceeds even the highest expectations,� beamed Klaus Ludwig, the three-time Le Mans victor, triple DTM champion and FIA-GT Championship winner, who has been working for DaimlerChrysler and Mercedes-AMG as a consultant to the development engineers since his retirement from motor racing.
Bernd Schneider, the current ITC champion, FIA-GT Championship winner and four-time king of the DTM, was similarly effusive: �The CLK DTM AMG is the best street racer I’ve ever driven�.
