Mercedes-AMG safety car for Bathurst 12 Hour

Mercedes-AMG's mighty C 63 S Sedan has been given Official Safety Car duty at the upcoming Bathurst 12 Hour enduro.

To be held from February 4-7, the 12 Hour's popularity has grown exponentially in recent years, thanks to its international GT3 category headliners producing exciting racing from a variety of production-based machinery.

Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of this growth, thanks to its mighty SLS GT3 and its booming naturally-aspirated V8 exhaust note. Several private SLS GT3s are expected to line up on the grid come race day, hoping to emulate the 2013 success of Erebus Motorsport. Sadly the new AMG GT GT3 is absent from the entry list.

Crowds will instead be treated to the latest bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 powering the C 63 S Sedan safety car over the course of the event. It produces 375kW and 700Nm, powering the sedan to 100km/h in 4.0sec. Ceramic brakes and an electronic locking rear differential ensure the C 63 S will lap Mount Panorama with strong stopping power into the corners and traction out.

The C 63 S's driver will need all the help they can get, if 2015's record count of 20 safety car periods is anything to go by.

"Mercedes-Benz has a proud heritage at Mount Panorama and we're excited to bring a strong presence back to the Bathurst 12 Hour" said Horst von Sanden, CEO and Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacific.

"We're thrilled to showcase the performance and safety of our vehicles at such an iconic event, and feel honoured to continue our provision of the Official Safety Car," he concluded.