There are very few times that safety is ever cool, but one of those is motorsport safety cars and as we stand on the edge of another F1 season it’s time for a new example to be revealed. This year’s safety machine comes again from Mercedes-Benz but is now in the form of the 2010 SLS AMG, which replaces last yearβs SL 63 AMG.
The SLS AMG safety car will make its debut at the Bahrain season opener on March 12 and will take part in all 19 scheduled races. Who is the lucky devil who gets to pilot it? The man for the job is 38-year-old German Bernd Maylander and will be on standby with the Merc in the pit lane throughout the entire race. Maylander, is a former DTM race car driver so he should know a moves to keep the F1 cars honest on the track.
In specification terms the safety car features the same engine, power transmission, suspension and brake system as the standard-production SLS AMG but it’s been fitted with a unique LED roof light system. It also comes with F1 livery and carbon-fibre exterior mirrors.
A special number plate will feature at the rear with “Safety Car” lettering and 700 LED lights will offer additional safety in darkness or wet weather. A sneaky reversing camera will allow the driver to keep a closer eye on the F1 race cars behind via a cabin mounted monitor.
As in the last two years, Mercedes-Benz is offering its C 63 AMG Estate wagon as the official F1 medical car.
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