AMG Safety Car

[Wizzo]

Mercedes Benz has confirmed that its two high-performance AMG safety cars from last year’s season will return to keep things order for ’09. The SL63 AMG will be staring once again as the Official F1 Safety Car, while the C63 AMG Estate will fill in the role of Official F1 Medical Car.

The two specially prepared AMG models will be used for all 17 races this year and have already seen track time during today’s practice session.

The hand-built AMG V8 engines remain unchanged, with the SL63 version developing a peak output of 525hp (386kW) and the C63 engine peaking at 457hp (336kW).

Behind the wheel of the SL63 will be former DTM race driver Bernd Maylander, and driving the C63 will be FIA-representative Alan van de Merwe.

When the safety car is deployed it sometimes appears to be driving slowly around the track, in actual fact, the safety car is usually driving at top speed. This allows the F1 cars following to maintain airflow and thus keep cool. It just goes to show how fast an F1 car really is compared with a AMG SL63.

[cosworth151]

Those AMG's make a wonderful sound as they blast around the track. The Safety Car also seems to have another function: Joy rides for V.I.P.'s between sessions.

[aazz]

You're right cosworth151 they do sound great. From the Australian GP.