McLaren's LeMans victory inspired Mercedes Benz to design their own GT1 car.
Unlike the McLaren F1 development, Mercedes Benz and AMG set out to design a race car first and derive a road going version from it. Developed and constructed in only 128 days, the CLK GTR made its debut in 1997. Under the carbon-fibre engine cover, an AMG tuned V12 was fitted. Nothing but the front and rear lights related the CLK GTR to it's original CLK series counterpart.
Pitched against the Porsche 911 GT1, the CLK GTR was an instant success. With talented drivers like Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig piloting the CLK GTR, it racked up victory after victory. At the end of the 1997 season Schneider was crowned World Champion. However a victory in the LeMans 24 Hours was one step too far for the Stuttgart team.
The CLK GTR was brought out twice more in the first races of 1998 and scored a victory in both. The remaining 8 races for the championship were won by its replacement the CLK LM. Again a LeMans victory eluded the team.
In 1998 and 1999 AMG built 25 road going GTRs
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