Mercedes-Benz C11

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Mercedes-Benz C11
MB C11.jpg
Category Group C Prototype
Constructor Mercedes-Benz
Sauber Motorsport
Designer(s) Leo Ress
Peter Sauber
Predecessor Sauber C9
Successor Mercedes-Benz C291
Technical specifications
Chassis Carbon-kevlar monocoque
Suspension (front) double wishbones, push-rod operated coil springs over shock absorbers, torsion bar stabilizer
Suspension (rear) double wishbones, push-rod operated coil springs over shock absorbers, torsion bar stabilizer
Length 189 in (480.1 cm)
Width 78.7 in (199.9 cm)
Height 40.6 in (103.1 cm)
Axle track 63.8 in (162.1 cm)
Wheelbase 109.1 in (277.1 cm)
Engine Mercedes-Benz M119 4,973 cc (303.5 cu in) HL 90° 5.0L Turbo V8 Twin KKK Turbos Mid, longitudinally mounted
Transmission 5-speed Sequential Manual
Weight 904.9 kg (1,995.0 lb)
Fuel Bosch Motronic MP 1.8 Fuel Injection
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants Germany Team Sauber Mercedes
Notable drivers Italy Mauro Baldi
France Jean-Louis Schlesser
Germany Jochen Mass
Austria Karl Wendlinger
Germany Michael Schumacher
Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Germany Fritz Kreutzpointner
France Alain Ferté
United Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
Sweden Stanley Dickens
Denmark Kurt Thiim
Debut 1990 Trofeo Caracciolo, Monza
Races Wins Poles F.Laps
12 7 8 9
Constructors' Championships 1
Drivers' Championships 1

The Mercedes-Benz C11 was a Group C prototype race car introduced for the 1990 World Sports-Prototype Championship. Built by Sauber as a successor to the Sauber C9, the C11 used the same Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0L Biturbocharged V8. It was the first time that Mercedes-Benz chose to put their name on the car, instead of simply using Sauber.

Debuting at the first race of the 1990 World Sports-Prototype Championship, the car did not actually race, choosing instead to run only in practice while the team used the reliable C9 from the previous year. However, for the 2nd race the C11 did race, and was able to successfully come home with first and second. Throughout the rest of the season, the C11 won all but one race and easily took the team's championship for the year.

Although Sauber-Mercedes had been successful in winning the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team choose not to defend the title in 1990 due to the race not being part of the 1990 World Sports-Prototype Championship schedule. The team chose instead to concentrate on winning the championship.

Although the C11 was to be replaced by the Mercedes-Benz C291 for the 1991 World Sportscar Championship season, problems with the C291's new engine led Mercedes-Benz to continue to campaign the C11 alongside the C291. The C11 was able to gain three more class wins in the 1991 season before the C291 fully replaced it.

The legendary car also won Le Mans Legend two times, in 2012 and 2014.

The reason that Sauber skipped from C9 to C11 is due to the difficult pronunciation of C10 in German, with C and 10 being pronounced nearly identically.

1990 Mercedes-Benz (Sauber) C11

  • Year: 1990
  • Make: Mercedes-Benz & Sauber
  • Model: C11
  • Engine Location: Mid
  • Drive Type: Rear Wheel
  • Weight: 1995 lb | 904.9 kg
  • Engine Configuration: V
  • Cylinders: 8
  • Aspiration/Induction: Twin-turbocharged
  • Displacement: 4973.00 cc | 303.5 cu in. | 5 L.
  • Horsepower: 950.00 hp (699.2 kW)
  • HP to Weight Ratio: 2.7 lb (1.2 kg) / hp
  • HP / Liter: 146.8 bhp / Liter
  • Gears: 5 speed
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Top Speed: <407 km/h (253 mph)

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

In detail

Year Nat. Entrant Class Nat. Drivers No. Rounds Points WEM
pos.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1990 Germany Team Sauber Mercedes Group C Italy
France
Mauro Baldi
Jean-Louis Schlesser
1 SUZ MNZ
1
SIL
Ret
SPA
8
DIJ
1
NUR
1
DON
1
MON
1
MEX
DSQ
67.5 1st
Germany
Austria
/Germany
/Germany
Jochen Mass
Karl Wendlinger
/Michael Schumacher
/Heinz-Harald Frentzen
2 SUZ MNZ
2
SIL
DNQ
SPA
1
DIJ
2
NUR
2
DON
2
MON
9
MEX
1

See also

External links