The success story of the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 began on 16 October 2010. In the former VLN series (now the Nürburgring Endurance Series), the BLACK FALCON team scored the first-ever overall victory for the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 with Thomas Jäger and Christopher Haase at the wheel, despite it being only the second race in which a Mercedes GT3 had been entered. This first victory was the start of a long series and a real commercial success.

 

The SLS AMG GT3 was developed entirely in-house with AMG

The SLS AMG GT3 was built on the basis of the luxury SLS AMG released in 2010, and formed the basis of an exemplary customer racing programme.  The race version was almost 300kg lighter, although it was fitted with a very robust FIA roll cage. A 6-speed Hewland sequential gearbox replaced the 7-speed road version. The driver has paddles on the steering wheel to operate the gears. As for the engine, the 6.2-litre aluminium Mercedes V8 of the production model has been retained and fitted with a dry sump. Depending on the regulations, power output ranged from 500 to 550 bhp. In terms of aerodynamics, the car has been extensively revised, with the addition of an imposing front spoiler, a massive rear spoiler and wider track to ensure that this German GT3 has solid roadholding.

 

The SLS AMG GT3: the ultimate weapon, with 183 victories to its name and commercial success for Mercedes-AMG 

Demand from private teams for this GT3 with gullwing doors continued to grow. Even in the year of its launch, the 25 cars available were quickly sold out. The racing successes speak for themselves, and the success spread to circuits around the world after the first victory in 2010.

In 2012, private teams won the Dubai 24 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hours, Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.

In 2013, it was a Grand Slam for the HTP Motorsport team and its drivers Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz and Bernd Schneider, who won all the major GT3 endurance races.  And to round off its supremacy, the SLS AMG GT3 celebrated its 100th GT3 scratch race victory. In the end, the car will have a total of 183 scratch victories. The SLS AMG is the ultimate GT3 weapon.

 

Chassis #106, a rich racing history in the most prestigious GT3 races 

Driven by Bernd Schneider, one of Mercedes' most emblematic drivers 

The SLS AMG GT3 that Ascott Collection is pleased to offer for sale was raced by the Jones family in major endurance races from 2011 to 2016. Replacing the ASCARI KZ1R with which David and Godfrey raced in the British GT Championship, chassis #106 was entered in the 2011 British Gt, where on its first appearance at Oulton park it gave its drivers a second podium finish. In addition to this highly competitive championship, the car will also compete in the Spa 24 Hours. David and Godfrey Jones teamed up with Mike Jordan, who is remembered for his British GT entry in a Lister Storm. Finishing 7th overall, the team took second place on the Pro-Am podium!  

In 2012, in addition to its participation in British GT and the Blancpain Endurance Series, our Mercedes GT3 was entered in the Spa 24 Hours. This time, it was one of the most emblematic drivers of Mercedes who joined the Jones family, Bernd Schneider, but the car didn't make it to the finish.  After a difficult start in F1 with uncompetitive teams, Bernd Schneider won a significant number of races and championships in a Mercedes bucket, whether in Group C with the Sauber C11, in DTM with the 190, in GT1 with the CLK-GTR and finally in GT3 with the SLS AMG GT3. 

In total, our car competed in British GT in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. At the same time, it also raced in the Blancpain Endurance Series from 2012 to 2013.

It was therefore entered twice in the Spa 24 Hours in 2011 and 2012 and in the Dubai 24 Hours in 2015 and 2016. In the last race, the GT3 was crewed by five members of the same family, Gareth, Morgan and Philip Jones. The Jones family put in another excellent performance, finishing 6th overall and taking a second place on the podium in the Am class. It was a wonderful end to the racing career of our Mercedes.

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The car was then sold to a French collector, who used it on circuit outings. In 2020, it will be acquired by two collector friends who will only test drive it on the Dijon circuit in 2021.

This superb Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 is being sold in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition. It comes with a particularly interesting set of parts, including an engine and gearbox.

This GT3 is now eligible for top-level racing in the Masters in Europe and the United States and in the Endurance Racing Legends GT by Peter Auto. This summer, a race in support of the Spa 24 Hours will allow this car, used to racing in the Ardennes, to return to familiar territory. Will you be at the wheel, as Bernd Schneider was just over a decade ago?