Calendar

	1999 RACING CALENDAR
	June 13/14	Le Mans, France
	July 3/4	Norisring, Germany
	September 18/19	Road Atlanta, USA
	October 9/10	Laguna Seca, USA
	November 6/7	San Diego, USA

Mercedes CLR Car Facts

For the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, the AMG Mercedes team built a completely new GT prototype based on the CLK-LM: the Mercedes CLR.

The CLR has a smaller frontal area than its predecessor. It is more than ten centimetres lower than the CLK-LM and also flatter, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. This will be highlighted on the high speed "Les Hunauieres" straight at Le Mans, in particular.

The proven engineering of the CLK-LM makes a return under the aerodynamic bodywork of the CLR. Every component has been further developed along similar lines and constructed to deal with the specific demands of a 24-hour race.

The AMG Mercedes design engineers had the exacting task of making the car considerably lighter by altering its construction, but without ignoring the need for the car to be very strong - the first priority in a marathon race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Contrary to the situation in the previous year, French regulations governing homologation do not require the car to be based on a road-going vehicle.

The relationship of the new GT racing car with the Mercedes-Benz product family has been maintained. The CLR has inherited the facial features of the Mercedes CL, its V8 engine has been developed from the production version and even the crankshaft basically comes from the production line.

Mercedes CLR Technical Data

BODYWORK

Type
Closed two door Grand Touring sports car prototype in accordance with Le Mans regulations for the LMGTP category

Chassis
Carbon fibre composite monocoque with integrated carbon fibre roll-over cage, front and lateral energy-absorbing crash boxes, bodywork and aerodynamic attachment parts of carbon fibre composite, front windscreen of laminated glass, side and rear windows of polycarbonate.

ENGINE

Type
Mercedes-Benz V8 (GT 108 C) derived from M 119 of the S-, SL- and E-class, fitted longitudinally towards the rear in mid-engine fashion, load-bearing, screwed tightly to the monocoque, through air scoop on the roof, two air restrictors, water cooler lateral to the engine, cooled air intake lateral to the windscreen and air ducting through ducts fitted in the doors, dry sump lubricant system, electronically controlled ignition and injection system (Bosch Motronic).

Displacement
5,721 cc

Cylinder
90

Cylinder Head
four valves per cylinder

Rated output
over 600 hp at 7,000rpm

Dimensions
Length: 630mm
Width: 800mm
Height: 505mm
Weight: 163 kilos (without air box, exhaust manifold)

DRIVE TRAIN
Gearbox Cross fitted, unsynchronised, straight toothed six-speed gearbox with magnesium casing, sequential manual gearshift.

Power Transmission
Multi-disc carbon-fibre clutch, rear wheel drive, differential with mechanical lock, steel drive shafts.

CHASSIS

Front
Double wishbone with push rod activation of the spring and shock absorber suspension units, attached directly to monocoque with pick-ups.

Rear
Double wishbones with push rod activation of the spring and shock absorber suspension units, attached directly to gearbox casing with pick-ups.

Brakes
Dual circuit brake system with tandem master brake cylinder, six-piston aluminium fixed calipers, internally ventilated brake discs and carbon-fibre linings

Steering
Rack-and-pinion power steering, steering wheel with airbag.

Wheels / tyres
Undivided magnesium wheels with 18" diameter;
tyres Bridgestone Potenza;
maximum permissible tyre width: 14";
maximum permissible tyre diameter: 28"