Why Did Mercedes Abandon Le Mans?

In 1999 Mercedes’ new Le Mans prototype car, named the CLR, famously decided to take up aerobatics, ending up airborne on three separate occasions at the famous track in Sarthe, France. Today we’re exploring the story of the infamous Mercedes CLR, and we’ll discover how exactly it all went so badly wrong.
#mercedes #lemans #racing

[@berkan5578]

The Fact that Mercedes made a Racecar but still insisted to put a Hood Ornament on it is Incredible

[@aydankhaliq2967]

Class.

[@bad-bunnyblogger8171]

It wasn't a hood ornament, rather a targeting cross hairs system

[@bradkroboth5490]

It was also to aid in front downforce

[@leecutler1527]

It's not a hood ornament... its a cross hair

[@dannywelbz3650]

Racing is for advertising and development

[@tweed0929]

You overlooked the most interesting part. The team didn't believe Webber's claims until third flight was captured on camera and blamed Webber's bad driving. Mark Webber was livid and was ready to smash team's principals faces when the car lifted its nose for the third time.

[@ChrisMolyneaux93]

Then 11 years later he found out that Red Bull really does give you wings.

[@extremedrivr]

@@ChrisMolyneaux93 Ouch 😂😂 I saw that race

[@anzaca1]

I mean, can you blame them? A Le Mans car getting airborne is pretty much impossible.

[@MiguelGarcia-vj7oo]

@@anzaca1 LMAO you and Mercedes forgot about 1955?......... 😂 What a bunch of dorks ......

[@stevesteele3312]

@@MiguelGarcia-vj7oo Leave the casuals alone, lemans dork.

[@Lamalas]

Mark Webber must have the world record for most racing cars flipped during a professional career.

[@exotica550]

Yes, but at least he got lots of Frequent Flyer Points from QANTAS...

[@coma3550]

Yeh maybe, what's he up to, 3 or 4 ?

[@KillerViper16]

@@coma3550 As long as I know 3

[@purwantiallan5089]

@@coma3550 3. But 4 also adding with Sauber Mercedes C9 when playing Gran Turismo 4.

[@crf80fdarkdays]

@@purwantiallan5089 lol does it do the same?

[@anzaca1]

One thing you can't fault the CLRs for is driver protection. The fact that they Webber experienced what is essentially a plane crash, twice, and survived both times with basically no injuries is a credit to the cars' strength.

[@pandanikos]

or luck

[@cycleoflife565]

@@pandanikos Three times with no injuries is beyond luck.

[@gx4548]

Safety is a point expensively addressed.

[@TheOtherNeutrino]

Won't be the last time he flips airborne in a racecar either.

[@barfuss2007]

the test drivers have no security cage like Webber

[@thierryfaquet7405]

Those homologated Mercedes racing cars looked SOOOOOOO GOOD tho !!! As a kid I was facinated by the "standard merceded grill" look in the middle surrounded by a bodybuilded race frame.

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

I just can't imagine a CLK-GTR as a road car. Parked it looked like it was going 100mph.

[@purwantiallan5089]

The top speed actually 219mph. I used that car in NFSIII HOT PURSUIT.

[@battleoid2411]

@@purwantiallan5089 Yeah, the world renowned racing simulation need for speed lol

[@mtekleel]

@@battleoid2411 Yes, NFS is an arcade game, but it's still a valid estimate of the car's performance

[@yofolkdem1256]

@@mtekleel nah it's not, cause the physics engine of the game and the need for game balance would dictate the performance of all vehicles.

[@Ardonn]

@@mtekleel Lol. No.

[@leandrociarrapico9256]

Mercedes: We need good top speed guys, so make an aerodynamic car. Engineers: Gotcha **Create an airplane wing with wheels** Mercedes: (._.)

[@automobilistic]

"The best, or nothing"

[@mariinito1793]

Mercedes' F1 team : Gotcha. *Creates some of the most impressive cars the Automotive world has ever seen, like the W11, and absolutely dominating an entire era winning 8 World Championship titles in a row* Mercedes' LeMans team : Yeah but can it fly???

[@dreadalex]

Mark do not do the slipstream, do not do the slipstream.

[@bahardin3992]

@@dreadalex Mark - box, box, box. ( oops, sorry wrong race.. 😅😁 )

[@purwantiallan5089]

@@automobilistic Mark Webber ever wanted to become a pilot in 2000.

[@marks7197]

Mercedes have a very poor track record of flying cars at Le Mans, obviously 1955 is the worst but in addition to this flight in '99, John Nielsen went up and over the Mulsanne Bosse at 220mph in the 1985 works backed Sauber.

[@JP-xd6fm]

1955 one is the worse accident ever in motorsport, isn't? and yet the race continued, what a crazy times

[@marks7197]

@@JP-xd6fm The organisers feared the roads would be blocked by the leaving spectators preventing emergency services from attending the injured. It was correct to continue in my mind for this reason alone.

[@JP-xd6fm]

@@marks7197 Sure, so true, at that time there was no helicopters to rescue people and a cuarter of million people is a lot of people that would had blocked the roads, so yes it was a smart move from the organisers.

[@noobsaibot7006]

Caused by Mike Hawthorn himself not Mercedes

[@marks7197]

@@noobsaibot7006 Not at all, The footage shows it was Macklin who lost control and veered into the Mercedes path. He probably was too focused on his rear view mirror.

[@domquinnchandler]

Jeez that is crazy, could have ended badly, Webber is a lucky guy. Great video again mate!

[@automobilistic]

Lucky in one sense, unlucky to have been in 2/3 of the accidents haha. Glad you enjoyed!

[@phattjohnson]

If you're talking about the crash in the video intro, that's Peter Dumbreck. Did you watch the whole thing yet? :P

[@davidvasquez08]

@@automobilistic it wouldn’t be the last time Webber goes airborne in a race car 🏎️

[@ghaznavid]

Memories of Webber doing some flying in F1 as well. He probably should have considered a career as a pilot.

[@intorsusvolo7834]

Good thing it flipped three times since cameras missed the first two.

[@alrecks619]

love that Mercedes is so ashamed of the CLR it seems that the car itself never made into any video games.

[@mannificent9527]

I think I remember seeing it in Gran turismo 3

[@legoferrari14]

@@mannificent9527 No, that was one of the previous-generation CLK's. There is a CLR mod for Assetto Corsa though, developed by United Racing Design.

[@shieldranger_fm2947]

yeah they have never even put in their museum in Stuttgart. I mean the clk is there but no clr in sight

[@arkeusalexander9054]

The only video game in which i ran with a CLR is probably Assetto Corsa (modded). Same goes for group c cars such as Mercedes Benz C11 1991, Porsche 956 1983, Jaguar XJR-14 1992, Mazda MRX-1 1992...etc

[@RobBCactive]

Isn't it a mod for MS Flight Simulator?

[@jurgenwittmann2905]

Le Mans was advertised in 1999 as the greatest chariot race since Ben Hur. I am a BMW fan and supported McLaren at the time. But I was shocked when the Mercedes flipped over. Too bad, with the withdrawal of Mercedes, the biggest chariot race was over before it even started. Thank God nothing bad happened to the drivers. BTW: As far as I can remember, 2 McLarens burned down in quick succession.

[@6lemans10]

The 2 Gulf sponsored McLarens burned to the ground in the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours race.

[@ssctiyo4735]

One things for sure is that this car is quite rigid, doesnt suffer too much body damage from 3 airborne crashes and the drivers each times it happen survived with minimal injuries, well except the 3rd one where it KOed the driver for a bit

[@jacekatalakis8316]

And then Peter Dumbreck had his monster shunt at Zandvoort in DTM in the early 2000s after this too. He managed to get an early 2000s DTM car, which if you've ever seen one, is designed to go fast and grip the road...and made it flip as well. I'm not sure if Peter had a talent for getting race cars to flip at that point in time...but...two flips in five years in two wildly different car types...at two wildly differing circuits too. 1999 Le Mans: Merc tries to launch their third space flight of the weekend and fails. That shot of the merc in mid air above the bridge is burned into my brain. Zandvoort 2004: Dumbreck runs wide and launches his Opel into a spectacular flip at the last corner.

[@BaronKube]

Less than 1000 views? This is such a good video though! I hope this blows up soon

[@automobilistic]

Thanks! I really appreciate it :) glad you enjoyed the video!

[@luciosalustiano5837]

1:55 when you realize that this battle is between McLaren and Mercedes, well remember that the two made the mythical SRL but neither of them was happy with each other, these images get much more interesting

[@colinstewart1432]

Webber seemed to spend an inordinate amount of his career airborne and backwards. Top bloke. Should have at least one F1 championship, but for RB management bias

[@rexthewolf3149]

Multi 21

[@Vartazian360]

Man these were the good old days. No Snowflakes or environmental concerns to ruin life. Beautiful footage. Most underrated channel ever?

[@yommish]

if we don’t stop fucking up the environment the “good ol days” will really be over. Take some responsibility. Also we’ve known about climate change since the 70s, you’d be whining just as much in 1999

[@ChrisMolyneaux93]

Mark Webber: Cars can’t fly. Mercedes and Red Bull: hold our beers

[@A2-986]

Nah, for red bull: hold our energy drink

[@wroomwroomboy123]

*Mercedes and Red Bull:* Cars can't fly *Mark Webber:*

[@II_Hylander]

Wasn't there a rumor with the first airborne launch that Mercedes blamed Webber for it? Like the driver has a button to fly off into the crowd 🤣

[@automobilistic]

I haven't heard that but it wouldnt surprise me hahaha

[@tweed0929]

Yes. They didn't believe Webber until the flight was captured on camera. Mark Webber was livid and was ready to beat team's principals faces.

[@walover165]

Not a rumour, it's been confirmed. He was berated for wrecking the car and nobody at Merc believed it was the car and not him.

[@TheMashinac]

Dalmas also flipped in Porsche at Road Atlanta in 1998

[@blankfiile]

And Auberlen flipped the bmw in 2000 i think. these cars just seemed to have the tendency to flip

[@e-money9251]

@@blankfiile the germans do love their aeronautical engineering a bit too much sometimes

[@mechanicandi1064]

The CLK GTR & CL R was a pretty cool design but sucks that AMG went thru horribly with these accidents 😳

[@joakimkn1]

If they've added louvers over the front fenders, that might have helped. Stange they forgot to copy that from the F1 GTR. Gordon Murray should have given the merc team a lesson in aero:p

[@GeneralKenobi69420]

I'm honestly not THAT much into cars but the CLK GTR (road legal version of the CLR) has been my dream car ever since I've played Midnight Club 3 on PS2 years ago. It looks a little "watered down" compared to the original CLR but hey at least it can still be bought, unlike the CLR which might as well not exist lol

[@sovereign3351]

Oh man hearing those Gran Turismo 2 menu themes brings back memories

[@madds6678]

I have only been to Le Mans once & it was 1989 so saw this car win, I had actually wanted to see the silk cut twr jaguar win ( working for MB didn’t go down to well 😂) & very recently had the pleasure to see both cars up close & a Porsche of the same era at the historic motor racing company that’s behind where I live in London fantastic looking cars. The red Porsche I seem to remember that tiff needel was driving caught fire on the pit straight just before the Dunlop bridge & retired with about 1/2 hour left of the race. The other garage near me that restores classic cars also had a lancia stratos recently that was a first for me never seen one before only on telly rallying & one of my top trump cards in the 70’s 😊 couldn’t believe how small it was !

[@richardwilliams9181]

Not gonna lie. That background music you have playing gives me GranTurismo 3 vibes. And it makes me all warm and fuzzy 😂

[@63bplumb]

It was a warm summer's day and all my windows were open at my house as I watched the race. When the car flipped out of control all I could say was OMG! OMG! my neighbor came out of their back door and yelled over the fence to ask if I was OK! I didn't realize how loud I had yelled it! lol

[@luisabreu1198]

Forgot to mention the remain chassis in the hands of a private collector in Germany, Mercedes wants nothing to do with the car anymore, it is one of their biggest shames, they don't even mention the successful CLK-GTR and CLK-LM anymore. They also don't mention how they helped kill GT1 in it's original form.

[@luisabreu1198]

There is footage on vimeo youtube wont allow to post a link search user GURNEYFLAP is around from 2009

[@mauladiraushanhidayat6648]

Why they didn't mention the successful GTR and LM?

[@luisabreu1198]

@@mauladiraushanhidayat6648 i guess they want people to forget about CLR debacle.

[@mauladiraushanhidayat6648]

@@luisabreu1198 I think they need to mention the successful GTR and LM. Because people always got wrong about CLR...

[@luisabreu1198]

@@mauladiraushanhidayat6648 Pretty much. The Lm and Gtr are such iconic cars.

[@sixfive5784]

I remember that race and it stuck in my brain till this day

[@perrycostello2267]

I was just a young kid when I first saw the CLK-GTR and i just instantly loved it something about the curves and the lines, I’ve had soo many toy cars based on it, just whenever I saw a toy version I had to have it, what really brought it home for me was GT2 for ps1 I remember playing that car in it for hours,

[@GT7PS5VR2]

Bro your videos are incredible, they deserve many more views than they’re currently getting.

[@automobilistic]

Thanks! Really glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@garysvan]

Excellent use of the gran turismo music.

[@DJBillionator]

I love how you used Gran Turismo lobby music.

[@Viperacrx600]

Am I the only one who noticed the Gran Turismo music?

[@nuGGet909]

class touch with the grand turismo music

[@Beyond_Slots]

I LUV THE GRAN TURISMO 2 SOUNDTRACK IN THE BACKGROUND!

[@slaine0537]

This is a true definition of the flying car

[@heatmonster420]

Dude the sound track is so nostalgic. Grand tourismo I think 🤔

[@automobilistic]

yes! All the music is from the Gran Turismo games (mostly GT2 and 3)

[@acid420tv6]

I remember these tracks while gawking at all the cars and reading all their info the game provided. I was like 8-10 yo.

[@johnnyzippo7109]

First off , i remember this flying Mercs race so well. My now x’s dad was a big Merc fanboy at the time , i reveled in discussing this issue with him. Second , those BMW LMR’s were frustratingly dominant , wow they were so consistent.

[@jacksmith4460]

your group C/LMP/GT1 vids are really great thanks

[@SDRIFTERAbdlmounaim]

love the Gran Turismo subtle menu sound effects you use to show an image/article

[@chuks_drafts]

I love this channel and the nostalgic gtr 2 music

[@rabmccudden683]

Great vids sir. I’ve watched a couple there, I dig the Gran Turismo music lol. New sub 😎👍🏻

[@deadkillereli3890]

Great vid bro

[@juanmaldonado3281]

WAW. A SUPER. AWESOME. STORY. TNKS. AND. BLESSED BE SIR

[@rcajavus8141]

0:08 worlds shortest drum :D

[@davidvasquez08]

Webber:*FLIES* RedBull: *LET’S SIGN HIM*

[@StigDesign]

Great video and you did properly differentiate clk-gtr and clk-lm Version :D al tho the image at 2:10 is the lm version aqnd clk gtr had smal design difference from mk1 and mk2 or V1 andv2 of clk gtr, easy to spot is the air vent front of front tires :D But Great video, Subbed since you have alot of great racing cars videos of the great ones/iconic ones :) ps the V12 engine used in CLK-GTR is the amg tuned engine from R129(600SL or SL600) its M120 engine tuned, also famous tuned in pagani :D

[@a92gsxdsm]

1 of my favorite cars in Gt7. Thanks for the video mate!! Look forward to the next 1.

[@automobilistic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Romulus1001]

Shame added the LM V8 version to GT7 and not the V12. The actual dominant version of the car was in V12 form and it's what everyone thinks about when they think of CLK GTR.

[@timmycrockett3348]

@@Romulus1001 wdym they won all 10 races with the v8 lm in 1998

[@traviswalker8933]

@@Romulus1001 the LM was more successful.

[@mauladiraushanhidayat6648]

​@@Romulus1001 The actual dominant car was the V8's LM. It wins 10/10 races in 1998. While the V12's GTR wins 6/11 races in the previous season...

[@AlanFormula12022]

The CLR legacies still is eternal till now.

[@renevalice3056]

I always thought how insane it would be to see multiple race cars taking off around the tack, just for people to realize how crazy scary and awesome motorsport engineering is. limiting race car specs is nuts for the sake of maintaining competition.

[@Truxxxor]

Nice background music! Used in Gran Turismo gaming series!

[@TJG239]

love the Gran Turismo backing music ;)

[@gayleknight1282]

Brilliant! Loving your work :)

[@maxpower2631]

Mercedes Engineer 1: "You know what this car needs? Mercedes Engineer 2: "No, what?" Mercedes Engineer 1: "A Turbo Boost button. You know that TV show, Knight Rider?" Mercedes Engineer 2: "Oh yeah, that show was awesome. Let's do this"

[@TheHondacivicfd2]

Love Gran Turismo 2 music in the background!

[@faridarridho8620]

Mercedes benz clr also have another problem. The distances between on edge of front bumper and front wheels are too long that could cause the car fly (the rear part too) Idk what's goin on Mercedes benz team mind when designing that car that they forgot to revise that distance.

[@r0b3rt_959]

Too much bumper overhang

[@TheMrWhitecookie]

No one gonna credit the awesome Gran Tourismo 2 sound track used?

[@galaxlordcz3933]

Webber seemingly has a talent for flipping cars.

[@mechanix1228]

Jesus I've never seen that footage of the car flipping. I can't unsee it now.

[@misiopuchatek152]

8:06 immediately is not the right word to use in that case… I mean three lift offs after?! I’m shocked FIA didn’t disqualified them after the second one… they were a deadly danger for the other cars, drivers and viewers. Only a miracle that nobody was actually hurt and all of the cars landed on their wheels.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

The CLK-GTR was always my favorite car to race in Gran Turismo. It’s a shame they never put the CLR in.

[@SoftBreadSoft]

Gran Turismo didn't have any flight physics support

[@pier-lucgaranddion1527]

Manufacturers have to greenlight the inclusion of cars into race games. I think Mercedes wanted the whole world to just forget about the CLR after these 3 incidents, forget it ever existed, never show it again, never talk about it again. Obviously, that was never going to happen. Case in point, this video. Also, Barbara Streisand effect and all.

[@e-money9251]

@@SoftBreadSoft just you wait, microsoft will probably put it on the cover of their next flight simulator title

[@Mr.Rendier]

the downforce of these cars is just insane! wow

[@ravinraven6913]

nice way to block the last few seconds with a suggested video to watch. It went right over the car, so what was the point in adding that last bit instead of a voice over to finish it off?

[@extremedrivr]

It's the flat bottom of the car where the air had nowhere to go except to lift it like an airplane. That's always been my assessment and I'm stickin to it.

[@automobilistic]

Many cars, including modern race cars, make use of flat floors to reduce drag. The CLR's primary issue was the magnitude of the front overhang. The bigger overhang meant that in cases where the front of the car lifted away from the ground slightly (such as going over a crest), the lift force acting in front of the front wheels was able lever the car into the air. Once the front wheels had left the ground, the flat floor acted as a wing as you say, but it should never have reached that point in the first place. That's my understanding at least.

[@extremedrivr]

@@automobilistic And yes that too which I had forgotten until the video.

[@hirisk761]

NASCAR had a similar issue with the next gen car blowing over. they put a huge wing on the trunk lid. turns out that when the car got backwards the wing did it's job and took off. funny how aero works

[@saibot20194]

Mercedes in 1999: “Do you wanna test your flying capabilities as a car driver?” Okay… 😂

[@gabrielmarcilio4944]

I love the background music from GT 💚

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

I heard that Mark's audition for a particular show didn't go so well. The car never moved fast enough for the speedometer needle to move. Captain Slow lost his spot.

[@alexandermcdaniel1479]

My favorite part about this video is that he used Gran Turismo music. Amazing

[@humphrey4976]

I think this is one of the best looking cars ever made

[@NovaLand]

Remembered back in 1997 when I was standing on a bus stop and saw this car drive by on Lidingö outside Stockolm, Sweden. I was thinking "wtf..?"

[@MH_Bikes]

Does Mercedes hold the record for flying cars at Le Mans?

[@verstraetenandre]

The mercedes CLR was a great plane!

[@automobilistic]

briefly

[@verstraetenandre]

@@automobilistic Yes, short travels, but efficient take-off and landing!

[@kuwaitman]

What was the reason for the left?

[@robair67]

Can someone correct me, as no mention was made of the team chief, Norbert Haug who, I have spent decades believing, had the nose-down rake of the Mercedes' chassis pitch angle reduced, to reduce drag and make the cars more competitive on Mulsanne, as they had been too slow in pre-qual, versus their rivals? I also read that the driver crews hadn't been briefed about the significance in predicted handling changes of this adjustment, particularly during slipstreaming.

[@StochasticWolf]

The Gran Turismo 2 background music though

[@WZ97U]

I'm a simple man. I hear gran Turismo 2 bgm, I click like.

[@danielgeorgezlateff2036]

I say the best way to a good breakfast is to know who is watching you serve it!

[@roan2512]

I guess too much down force on the Rare until the front is lift up enough to push more air to the front until the car send flying 😅

[@ChrJahnsen]

SUCh a shame. That Mercedes was such a phenomenal car and great looking to boot. 😫😫

[@adeadgirl13]

What's the physics explanation for this? These cars are basically upside down reverse wings, aren't they?

[@littlerougue]

I had no idea this happened three total times and twice to Webber, I am not sure I would have strapped into that thing after it happening twice in a few days

[@tumslucks9781]

Mercedes used a McLaren F1 GTR as an aerodynamic benchmark. The cars are aesthetically dissimilar so maybe that was the problem?

[@killingfields1424]

They have monopolized the game that seems like nothing can beat them.

[@andrewince8824]

Weber just wanted to fly like his hero, Graham Hill, difference is Weber decided to combine motor racing with civil aviation.

[@emilisgren2882]

it makes sense that mark became a red bull driver because of their slogan red bull gives you wings

[@christianbuczko1481]

Its incompetency which caused the cars to take off. It should have been tested better, provided with sufficient downforce.

[@BlessBeNice]

😢 Among of the most beautiful car in the world.

[@SenseiRaisen]

How much shame it was for MB And the CLR there is no game who included it at all officially. Not even Gran Turismo who has even concepts who never seen the light of day too on roads, or banned like the Chaparral 2D or never fully develop like the Toyota 7. And before someone said, mods of Accetto Corsa doesn't count.

[@noobsaibot7006]

Mercedes Clr barely appears in any racing games because it has been wiped out as a mercedes its not even in their official musuem. Thats how embarassed they were with it

[@danielecattabriga2168]

I got an ad on this video from Mercedes about the EQS

[@oleriis-vestergaard6844]

Guess they said to the drivers meeting - START OKAY - Landing not okay

[@johnmarshall4442]

I actually watched this live on television when it happened.

[@bober1019]

because according to the video thumbnail, they took to the skies and can now be seen amongst the ranks of the snow birds.

[@purwantiallan5089]

The CLR suspensions wasnt ideal for racing. Thats why.

[@anotherrandomcommenter4473]

Mercedes behind Panoz? I remember the Panoz in GT4 could only beat the Gillet Vertigo.

[@Private.Willie.Stroker]

The driver his phone was probably on airplane mode

[@Zoonsky]

7:27 who the hell is supposed to be Thierry Bouston

[@James-May]

That's what happens when you dive into loopholes