For racers in the FIA’s GT3 racing class, Mercedes-Benz is offering a GT3 version of its SLS AMG.

According to Norbert Haug, the Mercedes-Benz’s motorsport chief, “The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 marks the beginning of a new era in Mercedes-Benz customer motorsport’. Haug said, this is an exciting and spectacular sports car for dedicated private teams and talented private drivers. AMG will work together with their tried-and-trusted sports and touring car partner HWA to put in place a motorsport customer department which will guarantee its motorsport customers hallmark Mercedes service.

In collaboration with HWA, the car is built by AMG. The SLS AMG GT3 uses a specially prepared 6.3-litre V8 engine with a sequential six-speed racing transmission with steering wheel shift paddles.

In order to make the car race-ready, Mercedes-Benz has also given the SLS AMG GT3 a series of upgrades, which includes a steel racing braking system with re-calibrated ABS, a roll cage, a 120-litre CFRP safety tank and a fire extinguisher.

According to Mercedes-Benz, the car can be entered in any FIA-sanctioned GT3 racing series, including the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT-Masters and the endurance championship organized by the VLN, as well as the famous 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

For Buyers, those who order the car now will receive them in time for the start of the 2011 racing season next February.

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