History of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren - GTspirit
The Mercedes SLR is one of the most iconic names in the world of automotive and racing. From the Silver Arrows to the Mille Miglia, from drivers like Juan Manual Fangio and Stirling Moss to teams like Mercedes and McLaren, the SLR embodies it all. The roots of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren could be traced back to the 1950s, an era which marked both the best and worst in auto racing for Mercedes-Benz. It was in those days Mercedes developed the iconic 300 SLR. The SLR was initially designated as W196S, but Mercedes’ marketing department wasn’t pleased with this “uninspiring name” and came up with the 300 SLR. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was based on the Mercedes-Benz W196, which was driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1954 and 1955 Formula One seasons. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was developed for and used in the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season. In this series of important endurance and road racing events the Benz was also very successful as Mercedes won the championship with the 300 SLR. Source: gtspirit.com
