Racing teams everywhere better have saved enough money to take out their checkbooks and start writing! Mercedes has announced that the new SLS AMG GT3 race car is now available for order for interested teams. Priced at €397,460 ($436,500), the SLS AMG GT3 will be ready for use in the upcoming motorsport season.

The race car will be powered by the same 6.3-liter V8 engine, but has been tuned to deliver an impressive 600+ hp, a pretty significant spike from the road-going version of the SLS AMG which comes with a "standard" 571 hp. Also on the interior, the SLS AMG GT3 version will drop all of its luxury amenities, including the air conditioning, navigation and upholstery.

Teams interested in purchasing the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 can use it in all race series in accordance with the FIA GT3 regulations, such as the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT-Masters and the endurance championship organised by the VLN, as well as the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring->ke999 or Spa‑Francorchamps->ke1011 (Belgium).

As an added bonus, Mercedes->ke187 AMG and HWA AG (Mercedes' motorsport partner) will provide service and replacement parts assistance for teams in Europe.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

Interested teams can now order the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. The gullwing model for the racetrack is being delivered on time for the coming motorsport season, starting in February 2011. The sales price is €334,000(net) / €397,460 (incl. 19% VAT). Developed in accordance with the GT3 regulations of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the SLS AMG GT3 is designed as a customer sports car for sprint and endurance races. These races for GT cars which are similar to their roadgoing counter-parts have diversified starting fields and are always filled with excitement. They are becoming increasingly important on the world stage, not least thanks to their relatively inexpensive cost structure. The development and testing programme for the SLS AMG GT3 is proceeding as planned. Bernd Schneider, who has been a Mercedes-Benz works driver for many years and has won more DTM championship titles than any other driver, is at the wheel for the bulk of the test drives, which started in June. The first competitive action for the car, as part of the testing programme, will be in the VLN race at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife (North Loop) at the end of September.

Mercedes-Benz motorsport chief Norbert Haug: "The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 marks the beginning of a new era in Mercedes-Benz customer motorsport. This is an exciting and spectacular sports car for dedicated private teams and talented private drivers. AMG will work together with our tried-and-trusted sports and touring car partner HWA to put in place a motorsport customer department which will guarantee its motorsport customers hallmark Mercedes service."

Haug adds: "I am very pleased that the demand for this new and unique competition car is so great – there are many more enquiries for orders than can initially be dealt with. But, have no fear, the production curve will be ramped up step by step so that all interested parties who are serious about the SLS AMG GT3 can be served successively."
The new SLS AMG GT3 is an emphatic continuation of AMG's commitment to motorsport. AMG has been a pioneer in the motorsport world ever since its foundation in 1967. Ola Källenius, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: "With the SLS AMG GT3, AMG is once again showing its vast experience gained in over 40 years of motorsport and its high expertise when it comes to developing unique, high-performance vehicles."

The new racing version of the SLS AMG is developed and produced by AMG in close cooperation with HWA AG. HWA is responsible for the development and deployment of the AMG-Mercedes DTM racing team on behalf of and in constant consultation with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. The HWA team is one of the most successful in international motorsport, as proved by nine driver championships in the DTM and ITC, as well as two championship titles in the FIA GT series.No other brand has won nearly as many DTM races and DTM-titles as AMG‑Mercedes.

Interested racing teams can use the new SLS AMG GT3 in all race series in accordance with the FIA GT3 regulations, for example the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT-Masters and the endurance championship organised by the VLN (Association of Nürburgring Endurance Cup Organisers, with 10 motorsport clubs) as well as the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring or Spa‑Francorchamps (Belgium).