Mercedes-AMG ONE will never race at Le Mans
Despite sporting an F1 engine, AMG boss rules out German Valkyrie-rival for WEC hypercar classMercedes-AMG boss, Tobias Moers, has announced that there are no plans for the forthcoming AMG ONE Hypercar to battle it out in the new WEC Hypercar class that will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Speaking to Brit mag,
, Moers confirmed Project One customers had already enquired if the AMG ONE hypercar would be entered in the new WEC Hypercar class but worries over how the new race series would enforce the Balance of Performance (BoP) handicaps meant Mercedes-AMG ruled out entering a car.
“I’m really curious how that’s going to work,” Moers said referencing the new BoP rules.
“I know there’s engagement around the Valkyrie, I know customers have asked us if we’ll do that with Project One, but I’m curious at how such expensive cars will run in a special series under ‘Balance of Performance’ conditions”, he said.
“I don’t think that is the right way. I have concerns on one hand, while on the other I’m really excited to see those cars racing together. It’s an amazing situation. But investing such an amount of money in BoP-oriented racing? I’m not down with that for now.”
Created to help level the playing field and cap development costs, the WEC Hypercar class has already confirmed cars entered must have a maximum weight of 1100kg and a power output of 543kW.
Differing from the road car, and keeping costs low, the WEC Hypercar class rules also allow manufacturers to choose whether or not to use a hybrid powertrain.
So far, Toyota has elected to use a hybrid powertrain but Aston Martin has chosen to use a naturally-aspirated version of its Cosworth-developed V12.
Instead of actually racing the Mercedes-AMG ONE, that is powered by a 746kW 1.6-litre V6 hybrid, the German sports car division will attempt to draw a connection to its F1 team that lends the hypercar a development of its advanced powertrain.
Unfortunately, the complexity of its F1 engine, plus stricter WLTP emission regs that demanded a last-minute particulate filter to be fitted, has seen the $5 million Mercedes-AMG ONE dealyed until 2021.
Originally, the Project ONE concept was claimed to be capable of a 350km/h top speed and 0-100km/h acceleration in less than 2.5 seconds, plus a 25km pure-electric range.
Featuring an advanced V6 that spins to 11,000rpm, the hybrid-powered AMG ONE utilises not one but four electric motors providing all-wheel drive.
Just 275 will be made, costing $5 million each, with eight left-hand drive versions destined for Australia.
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