2022 should be another brilliant automotive summer. Mercedes-Benz Classic brings the brand’s motorsport history to life with presentations and driving shows featuring historic cars at outstanding events this season. Legendary classic cars with the star will compete at events including the 1000 Miglia in Italy (15 to 18 June 2022), the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom (23 to 26 June 2022), Le Mans Classic in France (30 June to 3 July 2022) and Pebble Beach Automotive Week in California, United States of America (17 to 21 August 2022) with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday (21 August 2022) as the highlight.
At the high-level events, the brand is presenting in particular the unique sporting tradition of the Mercedes-Benz SL dating back 70 years. Among the outstanding successes in the very first years were the successful premiere of the 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) at the Mille Miglia in 1952 and the double victory of the W 194 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952, as well as the outstanding class victory of the 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupé (W 198) at the Mille Miglia in 1955. This first series-production model in the tradition of SL luxury sports cars goes back to impetus from the US importer Maximilian E. Hoffman.
Networking with the world of automotive classics
“We are delighted that so many top international automotive events can take place again this season,” says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic since 1 January 2022. “These fascinating events are invaluable for the heritage of mobility – and awareness of history is also important for our own strategic development as the world’s oldest luxury car manufacturer. Because Mercedes-Benz also finds answers to current questions about the transformation of mobility from its innovative history,” emphasises the Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. Marcus Breitschwerdt will be present at numerous events: “I look forward to talking to our brand fans and engaging with the global classic car community.”
1000 Miglia (Italy), 15 to 18 June 2022
With three Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupés (W 198), the brand will be taking part in the high-class regularity race with around 400 vehicles over 1,600 kilometres in the footsteps of the legendary road race. The original Mille Miglia was held from 1927 to 1957 and is still considered the most beautiful car race in the world. In 1977, the race from Brescia to Rome and back experienced a renaissance as a regularity race. In 2022, Mercedes-Benz Classic will support the 1000 Miglia as an Automotive Heritage Partner. The three 300 SLs will be driven by Brand Ambassadors Ellen Lohr and Karl Wendlinger as well as Marcus Breitschwerdt. Also on the road with factory support: another “Gullwing” from Mercedes-Benz Italia as well as four private teams with top-class classic cars from the brand. Mercedes-AMG is presenting the latest generation of the sports car to mark the anniversary “70 years of the SL”.
Goodwood Festival of Speed (Great Britain), 23 to 26 June 2022
Time and again in the unique history of Mercedes-Benz, pioneering innovations have spurred motorsport on and thus provided decisive impetus for the entire field of automotive development. Similar correlations exist with other brands. The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022 celebrates this excellent continuity with the motto “The innovators – masterminds of motorsport”. The automotive festival at the Duke of Richmond’s country estate is one of the largest and most exclusive automotive classic events in the world. Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz Classic present the history and future of the brand with the star. To be experienced in England, among other places: A 300 SLR (W 196 S), a Sauber-Mercedes C9, a DTM 190 E 2.5-16 EVOLUTION racing touring car and a rebuilt 450 SL (R 107).
Le Mans Classic (France), 30 June to 3 July 2022
“Mercedes-Benz successes in France” is the major theme of Mercedes-Benz Classic at Le Mans Classic 2022, the tenth edition of this festival of historic motorsport. The brand is present with an exhibition and driving sessions on the circuit of the legendary 24-hour race. The exhibition focuses on the numerous racing victories in France from 1894 (Paris–Rouen) to the recent past of Formula One. Once again, the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL is a leitmotif. Finally, the double victory of the 300 SL (W 194) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952 marked the final breakthrough of the racing sports car. In 1989, Mercedes-Benz repeated this triumph with the C 9.
Pebble Beach Automotive Week (California, USA), 17 to 21 August 2022
The 71st edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the high-class supporting programme of the Pebble Beach Automotive Week are among the top events in North America. The special significance of this market for Mercedes-Benz luxury sports cars goes back to the beginnings of this history: 1953 Maximilian E. Hoffman, then Mercedes-Benz importer in the eastern United States, provides the impetus for the development of the legendary 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198). The super sports car is based on the successful racing car of 1952. Today, Mercedes-Benz Classic is present in California with its own Classic Center and looks after customers with service and know-how at the highest level.
Mercedes-Benz Classic will publish detailed press information on the individual events in the run-up to the respective events.
