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FROM COMPETITION TO CONCOURS: PERFECTING A GEM
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster emerges as an extraordinary model, representing the open-top iteration of a homologation special pivotal in securing consecutive Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships for Mercedes-Benz in the fiercely competitive realm of motorsports.
With a storied history in motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, following notable success in the German DTM series with the C-Class racecars, entered the FIA GT Championship in 1997. The series permitted the inclusion of large-displacement GT1 cars, requiring a minimum homologation of 25 units, closely mirroring the prototype racecars anticipated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Daimler-Benz met this challenge with a swift development program, establishing an ideological link between the new car and the triumphant DTM C-Class racers, despite substantial differences between the two models. The CLK GTR, entirely redesigned, featured an aluminum honeycomb frame with carbon-fiber body panels, embodying a true monocoque architecture. Its mid/rear-engine chassis accommodated an evolved six-liter M120 V-12, equipped with titanium connecting rods and tuned for increased compression to 12.0:1. Generating 592 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, the engine propelled the car from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds, reaching an impressive top speed of 205 mph.
Power was transmitted through a six-speed sequential transaxle, and the chassis boasted front and rear double-wishbone suspension with pull-rod coil springs, adjustable shock absorbers, and six-piston brakes featuring substantial carbon-composite rotors. Despite its nomenclature linking it to the C-Class DTM examples, the CLK GTR shared almost no commonality with the mass-produced CLK, except for the headlights, taillights, and rear grille.
In its inaugural year, the CLK GTR dominated the FIA GT Championship, triumphing in six out of 11 events and clinching both Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. The road-legal version, known as the Straßenversion, was introduced in 1997, boasting a more potent engine with increased displacement. Only 20 Straßenversion cars were manufactured, adding to their desirability among enthusiasts.