Our friends at TRG Motorsports sent us the press release below. Along with Circle B Motorscars of Texas, they will debut the SLR McLaren 722 GT in Joliet, Illinois on July 26:

Petaluma, Calif., (June 30, 2009) – TRG Motorsports together with Circle B Motorcars of Texas will debut the No 71 Circle B Motorcars Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT car in the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Series at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois on July 26.

The Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 GT is an exotic race car that features a Super Charged Mercedes V-8 engine capable of producing 680 horsepower, but will run in the World Challenge GT series with a restricted 550 HP V-8 engine developed by RML (Ray Mallock Limited) in England.  The car was designed and built by RML, in accordance with McLaren Technology, and is a limited edition racer, with only 15 in existence.  The name SLR stands for “Sport, Leicht, Rennsport” (Sport, Light, Racing).

TRG and RML are currently homologating the SLR 722 GT to comply with the SCCA World Challenge GT specifications.  The project is being headed by Bill Rader, No. 71 SLR GT project manager, at TRG Motorsports’ facility in Mooresville, North Carolina.

TRG sports car ace Spencer Pumpelly has performed an initial shake-down at Virginia International Raceway earlier this month.  Pumpelly will pilot the car in four races this season.

“Considering the amazing performance of the street car versions and the history of both Mercedes-Benz and McLaren I could not imagine this won’t be a rocket ship,” Pumpelly said.  “From what I have seen so far I think racing drivers and fans alike have a lot to be excited about with this car.  World Challenge is tough racing. The format is a pure sprint with a daunting standing start to kick it all off.  The expectations going into it can only be that the car is going to be a powerhouse and the team backing it, TRG – one of the best in the business.”

 

Owner of the No. 71 Circle B Motorcars SLR 722 GT, Peter Blom, is anxious to see the car on the track.

“Bearing in mind that these cars have a racing history in Europe dating back to 2008, we are excited to see what it can do in U.S. trim,” Blom said.  “We decided to race the 2009 version of the car here in the states to see if we can draw out the street versions of the cars that are currently in North America.  Some people buy these cars to add to a collection, I bought mine to race.  Together with TRG, we will see exactly what this great car is capable of in competition.  It looks like it is going 200 mph standing still and I can’t wait to see it on a U.S. race track.”

TRG owner Kevin Buckler is looking to the team’s first foray into the SPEED World Challenge.

“We want to show case the performance of this awesome car here in the states as well as our team’s capabilities,” Kevin Buckler, TRG owner said.  “TRG will be making its debut as a team in the series as well.  It will be the car’s first competitive laps in North America and we hope that some of the owners that have the street version in this country will also want to bring their cars out to race, or simply do some track days.  TRG and our awesome Mooresville facility will be prepping the SLR’s for clients to run in a variety of events, not just in full blown race trim.  We want the owners that purchased these vehicles to experience the thrill of learning to push the car to its limits, whether that is in stock trim or at a driver’s education event.  We can prep the cars in a variety of racing trims and we offer upgrade kits that will be available through TRG Motorsports.

Spencer is going to drive the car for us in four races this season at Autobahn, Mid-Ohio, Road America and Road Atlanta to showcase the car and the team’s abilities.  We are looking forward to seeing what exactly this car can do against the established competition in the World Challenge GT Series.  TRG has the full capability to race and service customer SLRs as well.”

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since.  The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 26, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities. TRG is based in Petaluma, Calif., near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.  The company’s NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and a new state-of-the-art facility is coming on-line at New Jersey Motorsports Park in late 2009.

For more information please contact Kyle Chura at (248) 821-0468.  Visit their website for detailed team info. www.trgmotorsports.com or www.theracersgroup.com.

The fifth edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin began with the fusion of fashion and automobile. Susie Stoddart, one of the world’s top race car drivers drove with Mercedes-Benz fashion brand ambassador Julia Stegner in the SLR Roadster to the red carpet at Berlin’s famous Bebelplatz. In high style, they were on their way to the joint fashion show of Black Coffee from South Africa and Ramírez from Argentina presented by Mercedes-Benz.

It was the first time that both fashion labels had shown their collection at one of the top international fashion events.

“I think it’s fantastic that Mercedes-Benz, as part of its worldwide fashion activities, gives outstanding talents from domestic markets the chance to present their fashions on a major international runway,” said Julia Stegner.

Along with DTM racing driver Susie Stoddart, the top model was delighted with the extraordinary show and the creative designs presented by the fashion labels from Johannesburg and Buenos Aires.

Both Black Coffee and Ramírez had previously been awarded at fashion events sponsored by Mercedes-Benz in their respective countries. These awards won them the opportunity to stage their own show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. “Fostering top domestic designers and up-and-coming fashion talents is a key element of our international fashion activities. We’ve established numerous national fashion prizes around the world and sponsor exclusive fashion festivals in order to level the international playing field for exceptionally talented designers,” said Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes‑Benz Cars.

Black Coffee and Ramírez showed extraordinary fashion designs

With their Black Coffee label, designers Jacques van der Watt and Daniça Lepen won the renowned Mercedes-Benz South Africa Award for Art and Culture, which this year was awarded in the field of fashion design. At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, they presented an extraordinary collection that merges past and future to create a new style for today’s South Africa. Faces are covered with helmets and nets reminiscent of colonial Africa, combining contemporary colurs, beading and printing that creates a look that is completely fresh, yet historic. “In a world full of technology, we return to age old finishes to infuse garments with personality and charm,” explained both designers. Black Coffee has always taken inspiration from old African traditions to create contemporary, luxurious fashion.

In late 2008, Pablo Ramírez of Argentina was named top national designer at Fashion Edition Buenos Aires. His spring/summer 2010 collection, which he showed in Berlin, is a tribute to Kouka, the legendary top model from his homeland and guiding spirit of 1960s Parisian designers. “My dresses represent the quintessential of grace. They are an ode to femininity and timeless elegance,” described Pablo Ramírez.

The new SLR Stirling Moss is also characterised by the most sophisticated technology and a breathtaking design which reinterprets the SLR legend. With 478 kW/650 hp the SLR Stirling Moss accelerates its V8 supercharged engine from standstill to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 350 km/h – no other series-production car is at the same time so open and so fast. This extreme concept makes the new high-performance sports car a legitimate bearer of the name of the British motor racing legend and Mille Miglia record-holder Stirling Moss, who drove the legendary Mercedes-Benz SLR racing cars from victory to victory in 1955. The exclusive SLR Stirling Moss rounds off the current SLR family and is limited to 75 units. It is priced at 750,000 euros. The SLR Roadster will cease to be manufactured at the end of May 2009 as planned, and production of the SLR Stirling Moss will commence in June 2009.

Photos on next page -

Three letters are all it takes to make car fans’ hearts beat faster: SLR. In the 1950s the Mercedes-Benz SLR 300 celebrated victory after victory. It won the Mille Miglia, the Eifel race, the Targa Florio as well as the Tourist Trophy. It was driven by the stars of the time: Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling – and, first and foremost, by the British racing driver Stirling Moss. At ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds he still holds the Mille Miglia record. This is why the modern-day version of the legendary SLR carries the additional words “Stirling Moss” in its name. As the new SLR Stirling Moss unites the character of the current SLR models with the fascination of the SLR of 1955. The core values of both the historical and the present-day SLR models include an exciting new design, innovative technology, high-class materials displaying perfect craftsmanship, and, above all: a unique driving experience for all the senses.

Highly puristic concept without a roof or a windscreen

Remaining totally true to the specifications of the 300 SLR, the new Silver Arrow’s equipment is extremely sophisticated and yet at the same time decidedly puristic, doing without both a roof and side windows. There are just two wind deflectors a couple of centimetres in height to protect the driver and passenger from the airflow. Two air scoops integrated into the bodywork serve as roll-over bars. With this extreme concept the new SLR Stirling Moss is visually very different from all the other vehicles which belong to the elite sports car class.

Just like the legendary racing vehicles of yesteryear, the SLR Stirling Moss dazzles with its superlative performance. Accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and with a top speed of 350 km/h this puristic high-performance sports car denotes completely new dimensions in open-top driving. And not just because of the impressive performance figures; every time drivers take to the wheel of the SLR Stirling Moss their senses are addressed with a previously unheard of intensity, conveying a driving experience in its purest and most sensual form. This automotive thoroughbred thus facilitates the kind of open-air feeling that is utterly unique for a road-going vehicle.

Exciting design reminiscent of the SLR racing cars

The SLR Stirling Moss, its entire bodywork made of lightweight carbon fibre, represents a stand-alone design concept. Whilst the Mercedes-Benz designers were working on the body of the new SLR Stirling Moss, they were fully aware every single moment that they were creating a vehicle with a top speed of 350 km/h. At the same time this supreme athlete is highly reminiscent of the
SLR racing cars from the 1950s, whose design idiom still never fails to impress
to this day.

The SLR Stirling Moss sports an exciting, pronounced arrow-shaped form and is characterised by an elongated bonnet and a compact, muscular rear. As there is no windscreen, the exterior and interior flow smoothly into one. The bonnet also stretches from its striking tip right down into the interior, giving the vehicle body a distinctly sleek air. Even when standing still, the sports car radiates such dynamism that the observer immediately falls under its spell.

Further eye-catching features include two air scoops behind the driver and passenger. They carry additional roll-over bars, also uniting the traditional and the modern. The wings are powerfully contoured. Black-painted ventilation “gills” sitting facet-like on the sides and on the bonnet also cite the legend. A thrilling interplay of light and shadow ensues through the expressive lines, underlining the dynamic overall impression. Exactly as they were on the shining historical example, the side skirts on the new SLR Stirling Moss are also very high. This prompted the designers’ decision in favour of folding swing-wing doors which open forwards.

The vehicle can be closed by two tonneau covers which are carried in the boot. When both tonneau covers and the doors are closed the SLR Stirling Moss resembles a sculpture.

In keeping with the puristic exterior of the vehicle, the interior is also reduced to the bare essentials. Surfaces penetrating each other in the instrument panel and doors make for an exciting atmosphere and resonate perfectionism. A mixture of high-class authentic materials such as carbon fibre, aluminium and fine-quality leather sets the style here. An aluminium plate carries the engraved signature of Stirling Moss and covers the area around the shift lever.

Innovative technology and polished aerodynamic concept

Developers working on the Stirling Moss were able to fall back on a wealth of experience gathered when producing the SLR Coupé and Roadster, in particular where the technical base was concerned, with its extravagant carbon-fibre design, high-performance suspension and throaty V8 engine. The common denominator uniting the Stirling Moss with the other members of the SLR family is the aerodynamic concept with a closed underbody and a diffuser in the rear bumper for maximum possible downforce at the rear axle – with one difference: the diffuser here is considerably larger than that on the coupé and roadster.

Thanks to the high-precision work carried out in the wind tunnel, the SLR Stirling Moss always generates sufficient downforce for extremely safe handling. But the driver can also manually operate the Airbrake in order to increase the contact pressure further, during particularly sporty driving, for example. The Airbrake is also raised during powerful braking at speeds above 120 km/h, so as to stabilise the vehicle even more in such situations, thus facilitating maximum possible deceleration.

Limited to 75 units – the SLR models’ crowning glory

The new SLR Stirling Moss is the kind of high-calibre speedster coveted by the enthusiasts alike. At the same time it marks the pinnacle of an era and, for the foreseeable future, at least, the final curtain for the SLR. In May 2009 production of the SLR models will cease; only a total of 75 units of the Stirling Moss will be manufactured between June and December 2009, bearing chassis numbers from 1 to 75. Not only does this exclusive vehicle represent the conclusion of the current SLR family; it also serves as a very special thank you to the most loyal of SLR customers, for they are the only ones able to acquire a Stirling Moss.

• 680 hp
• 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.3 seconds
• Top speed of 314 km/h (195 mph)
• Price $1.2 million

RENNtech produces the Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 GT and they also organized the event featured in the following video, which includes eight SLR 722 GT’s by the way.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We can answer the "How much?" question rather easily (795,000 €, or about 1.2 million USD), it's the "Where can I get one?" question that's more interesting.

As of Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT will be made available to the North American market exclusively through RENNtech, the Florida-based MB tuning house owned and operated by super-tuner Hartmut Feyhl, who also lists "technical director, AMG North America" on his resume.

"It's been a very exciting project to be involved in," explains Feyhl.

You can read the full RENNtech press release here. 

Current AMG Mercedes-Benz production and motorsport cars are battling against the McLaren MP4-22 Formula 1 race car. Fernado Alonso in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes starts last in a staggered start.

Jamie Green, in the DTM AMG C-class and Maylander in the CLK 63 AMG Black Series are getting 43 seconds advantage over Alonso. In the meanwhile, the C350, with Susie Stoddart behind the wheel, has already done half a lap!

The F1 makes a pit stop and continues the race. Did I mention this is a one lap race. Will Alonso in the F1 even have a chance?

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