Biblical clouds breeze throughout the sky above, vacillating between transient, superb moments of sunshine and darkish grey clouds unleashing onslaughts of track-soaking downpours. It’s lastly my flip to drive Mercedes-AMG’s new GT63 Professional on the Ascari racing circuit, and regardless of not having pushed the automotive or the monitor earlier than, I’m not frightened. The sky is blue as I stroll towards the herd of crimson and grey automobiles, and as I strategy, the growl of a gaggle of burbling twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8s step by step grows louder. My inside baby is grinning from ear to ear. As I choose the biggest helmet out there and squeeze it over my gargantuan cranium, it out of the blue begins to pour down rain. “Nicely, I suppose that is gonna be an actual check of the brand new AMG GT63 Professional’s supposed driver friendliness,” I feel to myself as I look forward to the motive force’s seat to whirr again into its rear-most place in preparation for my prolonged body. I ease myself behind the wheel and into the surprisingly spacious driver’s seat; mercifully, I match.
Full Disclosure: Mercedes-AMG flew me to Spain to drive the CLE53 Cabriolet on street and to expertise the AMG GT63 Professional on the Ascari racing circuit. It was my first time on this a part of Spain, and my first time driving on the beautiful string of tarmac that’s Ascari. I solely drove the GT63 Professional on monitor, so there are not any on-road impressions on this assessment. I’m endlessly grateful for this chance to recollect how cool my job is, and to expertise the great thing about the Andalusian area.
The GT63 Professional is supposed to be each approachable each day driver and succesful monitor day automotive that helps drivers squeeze out the most effective lap instances, in distinction to the previous-generation AMG GT R Professional that was a devoted monitor assault machine and didn’t coddle drivers in any means at any time. This isn’t a direct substitute for that automotive, however clarifying the naming similarity is so as. Like different second-gen AMG GTs, the GT63 Professional has normal all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering, and its handcrafted twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 produces 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, up 26 horsepower and 37 torques over the usual GT63. It’s 0.5 seconds quicker to 124 mph than the usual automotive, however regardless of the extra energy, the 0-to-60-mph time stays the identical at 3.1 seconds. Improved monitor day longevity comes courtesy of aero tweaks for elevated downforce and cooling, water cooling for all three differentials, two further radiators for a grand whole of 4, and normal carbon-ceramic brakes with additional cooling inlets when in comparison with the GT63.
It’s visually distinguished from its lesser sibling by subtly wider entrance air ducts and checkered flag emblems hooked up to its fenders and hind finish, and it may be had as a 2+2 with nearly ineffective rear seats or as a real two-seater. Pricing hasn’t been introduced but, however a Mercedes-AMG consultant advised me to anticipate the Professional’s beginning value to be across the $200,000 mark, about $20,000 greater than a traditional GT63. That’s a variety of automotive to be taking round a moist monitor for the primary time ever, however there I used to be.
Legendary racing icon Bernd Schneider’s enchanting accent comes over the walkie talkie giving us an concept of what to anticipate. One warm-up lap to familiarize ourselves with issues, three sizzling laps, and one cool-down lap. “I simply must make it by way of 5 laps with out going off, I can do that,” I feel. Certain, I’m licensed in efficiency driving and automobile dealing with, however I’ve by no means pushed on the infamous Ascari earlier than, and my first sizzling laps shall be within the rain. I alter all the things to my liking, and Bernd begins to tug on monitor. I pop the AMG GT into drive, flip the wipers to full pace, and take a deep breath. Even Eminem would battle to understand how apocalyptically sweaty my palms are, however we’re on the monitor now so focus, Logan.
My first laps on the circuit are frankly terrifying. I take advantage of all my mind energy to thumb by way of my rolodex of recollections desperately hoping to find my driver’s coaching whereas concurrently following the five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider on a drenched monitor in a automotive with over 600 horsepower funneled to the street by way of chilly Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, a stickier no-cost choice not provided on the bottom automotive. Evidently I’m mainly shitting myself for 5 laps, however I make it again to the pits with out ruining the automotive or my fame. The AMG GT63 Professional is surprisingly pleasant on the soaking wet monitor, however I’m grateful for traction management as there are just a few alarming and completely obligatory interventions. On the chilly tires and moist monitor, I discover each understeer and oversteer, and don’t let myself belief the automotive’s downforce to maintain me glued mid-corner. Maybe in opposition to my greatest judgment, I instantly request one other run.
Mercifully, the skies clear and the sheets of water are principally dried up by the point my second probability comes alongside. We hit the flawlessly easy asphalt floor of Ascari for spherical two, and I’m prepared. This time, I let the automotive do the work and am in a position to belief it to remain glued to the course by way of the high-speed turns. The GT63 Professional isn’t a razor-sharp monitor assault monster, however it’s extremely succesful, particularly when taking corners at pace. AMG labored to scale back front-end raise at excessive speeds whereas additionally growing downforce on the rear, and on the dry monitor I’m astonished by how a lot the automotive stays planted regardless of mid-corner bumps and occasional moist patches. The rear-wheel steering retains it feeling surprisingly managed, even after I roll onto the throttle too closely on nook exit and the rear will get a bit squirrely. It doesn’t really feel significantly sharp or edgy in any capability regardless of its immense energy, however the Professional certain feels quick.
Flip-in is exact, however I discover myself wanting for extra suggestions from the steering wheel. It’s not a difficulty of steering precision or pace, however particularly on a moist monitor I must know extra in regards to the grip ranges that my entrance tires have, and it doesn’t give me any really feel till I understeer egregiously. The 9-speed dual-clutch automated transmission does an important job of choosing the right gear on the monitor, and it possesses the most effective trait {that a} transmission can possess: you’ll be able to belief it, and also you by no means must assume twice about it. Stomping on the huge carbon-ceramic clampers heading right into a low-speed flip produces fairly a little bit of wiggle from the rear finish, however the brakes by no means present even hints of fade or elevated pedal journey. Naturally, the V8 sounds nice, with the occasional pops and burbles to spice issues up a bit. The automotive feels lots able to laying down some nice instances whereas remaining snug, however total a bit numb.
On the straights it feels highly effective, however not too highly effective. What’s too highly effective? I as soon as rode passenger in a Porsche 911 Turbo S on the Porsche Expertise Middle, and it was so unfathomably quick that it made me dizzy and I began experiencing tunnel imaginative and prescient when honking on it on the monitor. Fortunately, I don’t encounter that when driving the AMG GT63 Professional. Its energy supply is linear, with most horsepower delivered between 5,500 and 6,500 rpm, and may the wall of torque smack you upside the pinnacle, the all-wheel-drive system manages to dole it out with grace.
Is it a hardcore track-focused 911 GT3 RS competitor? No, however it’s not purported to be. It’s a extra pure competitor to one thing just like the Porsche 911 GTS; barely extra track-focused than the traditional GT63, however with out the complete road-legal race automotive vibe. Mercedes-AMG’s aim for the Professional was to create a automotive able to being a snug and opulent each day driver whereas concurrently having the ability to excel on the monitor. It’s an important automotive, however I used to be left eager to know extra in regards to the relationship between the GT63 Professional’s wheels and the wonderful race monitor beneath them. When you’re a contemporary Mercedes-AMG fan, then you definately’ll like it. I’m excited to see what extra the parents at AMG can do with this platform for future hardcore variants, however within the meantime, the GT63 Professional is a each day driveable, or each day trackable, efficiency automotive that doesn’t defy its luxurious roots.
