Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 130Y Motorsport celebrates 130 years in racing

According to Mercedes, this exclusive GT3 edition is “state-of-the-art motorsport technology meets traditional design features of the legendary racing cars of the 1950s."

Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Jules Gounon has already demonstrated the success of the formula. At Mount Panorama Circuit in Australia, he beat the track record for GT cars by 2.074 seconds with a time of 1m 56.605 seconds.

So, what do you get? A 6.3-litre, naturally aspirated V8 sending power through a six-speed sequential racing gearbox. This non-homologated special is the most potent GT3 Affalterbach's ever built, humbling the 550PS (405kW) produced by the regular race car with restricted intake and exhaust. 

Mercedes has also beefed up the aero package. The 130Y Motorsport has 15 per cent more downforce than the standard GT3 because of a redesigned front splitter, louvres in the front wings, new side skirts, an updated diffuser, and a larger rear spoiler.  

Linked to that spoiler is an F1-inspired Drag Reduction System (DRS). Pressing a button on the steering wheel folds the spoiler flat, lowering drag, while elements on the front floor extend simultaneously to keep the car balanced as it approaches its 196mph top speed. 

Braking is reassuringly beefy, coming from carbon discs, and the suspension features fully adjustable four-way motorsport shock absorbers. 

As well as safety features that help keep you on track – adjustable traction control and racing ABS – you get ones that come into play if you come off, including a carbon fibre safety cell, a five-point harness, steel roll cage, fire-extinguisher system and a safety hatch. 

Styling is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL W 194 racing sports car from 1952, Merc's first closed-top racer. You get Silver Arrows paint with blue rhombuses on the front wings and framing the radiator grille nodding to 1952's Carrera Panamerican and Le Mans-winning cars The piste de resistance is a striking AMG crest on the roof.

Inside, you get a motorsport specification Bosch DDU 10 cockpit display with enlarged screen and high-resolution graphics. But the design is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz SLR 300, so there’s blue chequered seat upholstery, brown leather headrests and door loops, and a very racy steering wheel with anodised buttons and walnut wood handles. All cars also get a build plaque attached to the centre console.

But it doesn't end there; each car comes with a cover and a race kit co-designed by Mercedes-AMG Official Partner, Puma, with a personalised racing suit, gloves, racing underwear, shoes and a customised Bell helmet. All of these fit in the personalised bag, which has a blue chequered pattern to match the car's seats, that is also included in the sale. 

A 1:8 scale model car of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Edition 130Y Motorsport is the icing on the cake of this incredible package. Incredible but not cheap, because each car costs nearly £900,000 although getting your hands on one at all might be an even bigger issue than paying for it.