Yahoo Movies Watch an Ultra-Rare Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series Crash at Goodwood
Every summer, the Goodwood Festival of Speed provides enthusiasts the opportunity to see some of the most extreme cars on the road fly their way up Lord March’s famous driveway. Unfortunately for Mercedes-AMG, one particularly special GT Track Series model got a lot of attention this weekend for the fashion in which its run ultimately came to an end. More specifically, the track-only coupe crashed out of the event before making it through the very first corner.
Limited to just 55 units globally, the Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series was unveiled earlier this year in celebration of the 55th anniversary of AMG. This track-only vehicle takes all of the learnings from the GT Black Series and cranks the knob up even further. Under the hood sits the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine, complete with the same flat-plane crankshaft setup as the Black Series. That said, the V-8 is good for 734 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque in Track Series spec, gains of 14 hp and 37 lb-ft, respectively. That power is sent to the rear wheels via a sequential Hewland HLS 6-speed racing transaxle, which works in tandem with an adjustable racing differential. Four-way adjustable Bilstein dampers, multi-stage traction and ABS controls, and a revised aero package also bring some track readiness to the package. Inside, you’ll find a prepped interior, including a fire suppression system, an integrated cage, and an ever-so-important escape hatch.
Mercedes-AMG tasked driver Adam Christodoulou with bringing this wild machine to the top of Goodwood over the past weekend. Christodoulou is a talented racer, having won the 2008 British Formula Renault Championship. Like most drivers at the event, Christodoulou began his run by getting some heat into the tires with a massive burnout. He then continued to spin the tires a bit as he approached turn one, only to jump on the brakes late. Despite the big stoppers affixed at all four corners, the car was unable to slow enough to prevent Christodoulou from understeering into turn one. Unfortunately for Christodoulou and his passenger, there wasn’t enough room to avoid smashing the AMG into the straw barrier. The Track Series was the first car at this year’s event to make contact with the straw barrier. It would later be removed from its resting place with a little help from a Rolls-Royce Cullingnan and its tow hitch.
It's worth noting that none of the damage suffered by the AMG in this instance looks irreparable. That is especially true when you consider that each of these Mercedes-AMG Track Series models carried an MSRP of over $405,575. Of course, that purchase price does include access to some spare parts, so it is possible the owner will get away from this incident without much of a bill. Either way, we’re glad to see at least one of these cars isn’t just locked away in a garage.
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