Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

1971: Class victory and second place in the overall ranking for the AMG-Mercedes 300 SEL 6.8 in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).

1980: First place of an AMG-Mercedes 450 SLC in the Grand Prix counting towards the European Touring Car Championship on the Nürburgring.

1986: Two victories of an AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).

1988: Six victories of the AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 in the German Touring Car Championship, start of the official partnership of Mercedes-Benz and AMG in motorsport.

1989: AMG is the most successful team in the DTM; Klaus Ludwig and Johnny Cecotto score seven victories. Entry of the AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution I.

1990: Premiere of the more powerful 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II.

1991: First place for AMG-Mercedes in the team ranking; the most successful driver is Klaus Ludwig. First place for Mercedes-Benz in the brand ranking. DTM hitting its peak: the races are watched by over 153 million people.

1992: Again first place for AMG-Mercedes in the team ranking; again first place for Mercedes-Benz in the brand ranking with victory in 16 heats. Klaus Ludwig clinches the DTM drivers’ title at the wheel of an AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. Ellen Lohr is the first woman to win a DTM race driving an AMG-Mercedes; former Formula One World Champion Keke Rosberg joins the driver lineup for AMG-Mercedes.

1993: Roland Asch driving an AMG-Mercedes finishes as runner-up in the DTM. Last season for the AMG-Mercedes 190 E which had been driven to 50 victories until then.

1994: First season of the AMG-Mercedes C-Class with six-cylinder engine. Klaus Ludwig clinches the DTM drivers’ title at first go.

1995: AMG wins the DTM Championship for the third time and also the International Touring Car Championship (ITC) in the latter’s first year. The champion in both series is Bernd Schneider. Nine DTM victories and eight ITC victories for the brand with the three-pointed star.

1996: Bernd Schneider, driving an AMG-Mercedes, finishes as runner-up in the ITC; seven victories for Mercedes.

1997: Driving the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR newly designed by AMG in just 128 days, Bernd Schneider wins the newly created FIA GT Championship at first go.

1998: Dominance in the FIA-GT series – at the wheel of the CLK-GTR, Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta win all ten races and the drivers’ title; the AMG-Mercedes team secures the constructors’ title for itself.

2000: In the new DTM touring car series, Bernd Schneider driving the Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM from AMG wins the championship at first go; six double victories and first place for Mercedes-Benz in the manufacturers’ ranking.

2001: Same procedure as the year before – Bernd Schneider clinches the drivers’ title, and first place in the constructors’ ranking goes to the AMG-Mercedes team.

2002: Continuation of the thrilling DTM races with the newly developed CLK-DTM. After having competed in 201 Grand Prix races, Jean Alesi changes from Formula One to the AMG-Mercedes team. Bernd Schneider finishes as runner-up behind Laurent Aiello (Audi); Vodafone/AMG-Mercedes occupies first place in the team ranking.

2003: Bernd Schneider wins his fourth DTM Championship title. His team-mate Christijan Albers finishes as runner-up. Vodafone/AMG-Mercedes defends first place in the team ranking, and Mercedes-Benz wins nine out of ten races and thereby the manufacturers’ ranking.

2004: The successful CLK-DTM is replaced by the AMG-Mercedes C-Class. Gary Paffett finishes as runner-up behind Mattias Ekström (Audi). The Vodafone/ DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG-Mercedes team and Mercedes-Benz occupy second places in the team and manufacturers’ rankings, respectively.

2005: Mika Hakkinen, Formula One World Champion in 1998 and 1999, joins the DTM team of AMG-Mercedes. Thrilling battle for the title between Mika’s team-mate Gary Paffett and Audi driver Mattias Ekström.

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