Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series Crashes at Goodwood Festival of Speed

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The Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series crashed at Goodwood in what was the first incident of the event. Both driver and co-driver walked away unharmed. It probably is the first Track Series involved in an accident, leaving only 54 of them untouched.

The car ended up in the haystack in the first corner. Driver Adam Christodoulou and his co-driver immediately opened the doors and jumped out of the car. Stewards rushed to the car bringing fire extinguishers, but luckily, they were unnecessary.

The replay shows that, after full acceleration, there was no sign of braking in the first corner until very late. So instead of turning right, the car slammed, head first, into the haystack. “It was the point of no return. And if there was any return, Adam Christodoulou would have achieved it,” commentators said during the live broadcast.

An internal investigation will reveal if it was a human error or a mechanical issue.

The man behind the wheel was Adam Christodoulou, the 33-year old British racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Nurburgring back in 2016, with an AMG GT3 racing car. He is also a Mercedes-AMG factory driver, AMG training coach and instructor.

Mercedes launched the Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series during the company’s 55th anniversary year. Only 55 such units rolled off the assembly line. And as you might have guessed, it’s all in the name of the car. The “Track Series” part really says it all.

The model sports the company’s 4.0-liter V8, launched back in 2014. This absolute track beast sizzles 734 PS (723 HP) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque through an Hewland HLS six-speed sequential gearbox. Due to extensive use of lightweight materials, the Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series tips the scale at only 1,400 kilograms (3,086 pounds). The GT Black Series weighs 215 kilograms (474 pounds) more.

As strange as it may seem, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan eventually came to rescue on the track at Goodwood. The luxury SUV towed the Mercedes away.

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