Mercedes-Benz has an illustrious motorsports historical past, relationship again to the primary race thought-about to be a world occasion, the 1894 Paris to Rouen race organized by the journal Le Petit Journal.

Mercedes did not compete within the race instantly. Mercedes as a model would not floor till early the next century. Nonetheless, there have been automobiles competing that ran engines licensed from Daimler, which might later change into Mercedes, together with the winner of the race, a Peugeot Sort 7 piloted by Albert Lemaître.

The Peugeot wasn’t the primary automobile to cross the end line, although. That honor went to a steam-powered automobile pushed by Jules-Albert de Dion, although the steam automobile’s consequence was disqualified because it required a stoker, which was in opposition to the principles.

A 12 months later, one other automobile powered by a Daimler-licensed engine would win the primary timed automobile race which ran from Paris to Bordeaux.

Peugeot with a Daimler-licensed engine that gained the 1894 Paris to Rouen race

It would not be lengthy till the primary Mercedes-branded automobiles have been on the observe. The primary was the Mercedes 35 HP which in 1901 was pushed by Wilhelm Werner to victory in a number of races close to Good within the south of France.

In 1906, the primary French Grand Prix was held, marking the beginning of the grand prix format. The prize for that race was 45,000 French francs, equal to 13 kilograms of gold. A Mercedes would first win the occasion in 1908, and once more in 1914.

Ultimately, Mercedes would enter extra prestigious occasions, together with the Targa Florio in Sicily, and a number of different grands prix races that sprung up round Europe. There was a pause in racing in the course of the Second World Conflict, however Mercedes would make a comeback in 1952 with the 300 SL. The automobile would show profitable that 12 months within the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Carrera Panamericana, and a significant race on the Nürburgring.

The oldest SL: a 1952 Mecedes 300 SL, chassis quantity 002

Shortly after, Mercedes could be in Formulation 1, competing with the W196. Legendary driver Juan Manuel Fangio was topped the F1 world champion in 1954 and 1955 whereas driving for Mercedes.

Within the Nineteen Sixties, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher and their engineering firm, AMG, entered the image. They’d put together Mercedes manufacturing automobiles for racing obligation, and rapidly discovered success, significantly in these early years with the 300 SEL 6.8 in occasions just like the 24 Hours of Spa.

Different partnerships could be shaped, together with with Sauber in Group C racing and F1, in addition to with McLaren in F1. A vital transfer was Mercedes buying the Brawn GP F1 group in 2010, which might be adopted beginning in 2014 with successive championship titles because of the efforts of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The group has racked up 7 drivers’ and eight constructors’ titles, and can proceed to hunt for extra.