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Mercedes-AMG GT pressed into service as DTM safety car

DTM is one of the most competitive, fast-paced touring car series in the world. So to set the pace, the marshals need a pretty fast car as well. And that's just what they got with the new Mercedes-AMG GT pictured here. Marking its debut at the Lausitzring speedway this weekend, the AMG GT S safety car is based closely on the road-going model, but like the version that's already in use in Formula One, it's been modified for safety-car duty. That means a low-profile light bar mounted to a carbon-fiber air scoop on the roof – both tested in a wind tunnel – as well as the front splitter and rear wing from the optional Aerodynamics package, and the optional upgraded rolling stock. Inside it's got racing buckets, six-point harnesses, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and special radio equipment. Otherwise it's essentially the same as the road-going model, right down to the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and seven-speed dual clutch transmission. After all, with 510 horsepower on tap, it ought to be able to stay out ahead of the 490-hp touring cars currently competing in DTM. The new safety car replaces the C63 AMG Black Series coupe that Mercedes previously contributed to the effort, and will alternate with the vehicles furnished by rivals Audi and BMW from race to race. Related Video: Mercedes-AMG GT S: new Safety Car for the DTM: From Formula 1® to the DTM Affalterbach. A new Safety Car celebrates its DTM premiere: at the second DTM race at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz (29 to 31 May 2015), the Mercedes-AMG GT S is set to be deployed for the very first time. The new sports car will help to ensure maximum safety on the race track in the world's most popular touring car series. In technical terms, the 375 kW (510 hp) eight-cylinder sports car is for the most part the same as the series production vehicle – just like its counterpart from the FIA Formula 1 World Championship™, the Official Safety Car. In its road-going guise the Mercedes-AMG GT S has turned heads since its market launch in March 2015 and now the sports car is also taking to the DTM stage. The new season of the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) got under way during the first weekend of May in Hockenheim. The second DTM race taking place at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz at the end of May will see the Mercedes-AMG GT S make its first appearance as the official Safety Car.

McLaren F1 boss says team will dethrone Mercedes

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Lewis Hamilton signs another three years with Mercedes

Dominant. That's really the only term we could use to describe the marriage of Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes F1 team. And now they've signed a new contract. The subject of prolonged speculation, the reigning world champion and his team have announced a new three-year deal that will see Hamilton driving a Silver Arrow at least through the end of 2018. That's good news for Hamilton, who has only ever driven Mercedes-powered cars in Formula One, and for Mercedes, which has secured its star driver for years to come. Although details of the deal (as usual) were not disclosed, the BBC reports that it could be worth as much as $40 million each year. Hamilton's base salary is said to come in at $31 million per season, with extensive bonuses for winning races and championships – something at which Lewis and Benz have proven particularly adept. Racing fans will be well schooled in the trajectory of Hamilton's meteoric rise. He climbed the formula racing ladder with support from Mercedes and McLaren, winning the Formula 3 Euro Series and GP2 championships before hitting the F1 grid for McLaren in 2007 – and quite nearly locking the championship in his first season. He won his first F1 title in 2008, then struggled with the Woking team in subsequent seasons but kept winning races, switching to Mercedes in 2013 after Michael Schumacher re-retired. He won his second championship the following season on the back of 11 grand prix wins last year, and currently leads the standings ahead of his teammate Nico Rosberg. "Mercedes is my home and I couldn't be happier to be staying here another three years," said Hamilton. "The Mercedes car I am driving right now is the best I have ever had in my career."