The Mercedes-Benz Group Archive has updated and expanded the motorsport section of its digital multimedia archive and research system, M@RS, to include comprehensive details from the period 1894 to 1955. This enhancement marks various anniversaries of significant achievements in Mercedes-Benz’s motorsport history, highlighting the brand’s deep-rooted connection to racing success.
On July 22, 1894, two vehicles with Daimler license engines claimed victory in the Paris–Rouen race, the first automobile competition in history. This milestone, witnessed by Gottlieb Daimler and his son Paul, underscored the innovative spirit and competitive edge of the brand. Paul Daimler later recounted the diverse range of vehicles competing, from heavy steam cars to nimble petrol cars, showcasing the technological diversity of that era.
READ MORE: Honda Launches Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Production in Ohio
The brand’s storied history in motorsport includes numerous landmark victories, such as the 1924 Targa Florio win by Christian Werner in a supercharged Mercedes, and the debut victory of the Mercedes-Benz W 25 at the 1934 Eifel race at Nürburgring, marking the rise of the “Silver Arrows.” Another historic triumph was the start of the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R’s success series in Reims on July 4, 1954, leading to Juan Manuel Fangio’s World Championship titles in 1954 and 1955.
Lewis Hamilton continued this legacy by becoming Formula One World Champion with the Mercedes W05 Hybrid in 2014, initiating a dominant era for the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team.
To honor these milestones, the Mercedes-Benz Group Archive has restructured and visually optimized its motorsport history section in M@RS. The archive now features detailed information on drivers, vehicles, races, rallies, and record drives, with a new overarching category for eras, racing series, and championships. This makes the archive more user-friendly, providing an insightful overview of Mercedes-Benz’s rich motorsport heritage.
In summary, the expanded M@RS archive celebrates several key anniversaries in Mercedes-Benz’s motorsport history:
130 years ago (1894): On July 22, 1894, the first motor vehicle race organized by “Le Petit Journal” took place from Paris to Rouen, won by vehicles with Daimler license engines, marking the birth of motorsport.
125 years ago (1899): The first “Nice Week” motorsport event occurred, with victories in various classes by Daimler “Phoenix” vehicles. The 1901 Nice Week was dominated by the first modern car, the Mercedes 35 hp.
120 years ago (1904): Camille Jenatzy’s win in the 1903 Gordon Bennett race brought the prestigious event to Germany, with Mercedes vehicles securing multiple top positions.
110 years ago (1914): Mercedes achieved a one-two-three victory at the French Grand Prix in Lyon on July 4, 1914, with Christian Lautenschlager leading the team.
100 years ago (1924): Christian Werner won the Targa Florio and Coppa Florio in Sicily with a Mercedes 2-litre racing car, celebrated today with the restoration of an original 1924 racing car.
90 years ago (1934): The debut of the Mercedes-Benz W 25 at the Eifel race on June 3, 1934, marked the beginning of the Silver Arrows era.
70 years ago (1954): The Mercedes-Benz W 196 R’s first Formula One race at the French Grand Prix on July 4, 1954, resulted in a win for Juan Manuel Fangio, who became World Champion that year.
60 years ago (1964): Mercedes-Benz secured a one-two-three victory in the Argentine Grand Prix for touring cars, continuing their success in endurance competitions.
40 years ago (1984): The new Nürburgring opened with a race featuring 20 champions driving Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 cars, won by Ayrton Senna.
30 years ago (1994): Al Unser Jr. won the Indianapolis 500 with a Penske-Mercedes PC-23 IndyCar, and Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula One as a partner with Peter Sauber’s team. Klaus Ludwig also became the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) champion in an AMG-Mercedes C-Class.
25 years ago (1999): Mika Häkkinen won his second consecutive Formula One World Championship with McLaren-Mercedes.
10 years ago (2014): Lewis Hamilton won the drivers’ title and the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team secured the constructors’ title, starting a streak of eight constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles.
The expanded M@RS archive provides a detailed and accessible record of these and other significant moments in Mercedes-Benz’s illustrious motorsport history. Explore the archive for a deeper dive into the brand’s racing heritage at Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Archive.
READ MORE: Upcoming Electric Vehicles: The Best EVs You’ll Be Able to Buy Soon
Subscribe today for the freshest car news delivered to your inbox
