Mercedes-Benz C 32 AMG Medical Car: The F1 Emergency Vehicle from 2001-2003
This high-performance wagon served as the official FIA Formula 1 Medical Car from 2001 to 2003, bringing rapid emergency care to the world's fastest race track.
- 260 kW (354 PS)
- 280 km/h
- 1,556
What Happened
The Mercedes-Benz C 32 AMG T-Modell (S203) was built as the original FIA Medical Car for Formula 1 from 2001 to 2003. It carried a crew of professional driver Jacques Tropenat, neurosurgeon Professor Sid Watkins, and anesthesiologist Gary Hartstein, along with a local emergency doctor. The car was equipped with medical gear for resuscitation, monitoring, and burn incidents, stored in a variable load box in the trunk.
260 kW (354 PS)
from the 3.2-liter V6 supercharged engine M 112 E 32 ML AMG, with maximum torque of 450 Nm.
- Driver: Jacques Tropenat (professional racing driver)
- Lead physician: Professor Sid Watkins (neurosurgeon, FIA Safety Delegate)
- Deputy: Dr. Gary Hartstein (anesthesiologist and emergency physician)
- Local emergency doctor (per race track)
Mercedes-AMG has been providing the Official FIA F1 Safety and Medical Cars since 1996, marking 30 years of service. The C 32 AMG Medical Car was exclusive, with only 1,556 units of the C 32 AMG produced between 2001 and 2004. It reached a top speed of 280 km/h and used Michelin Pilot Sport tires with 'Extraload' reinforcement.
Why this matters
The C 32 AMG Medical Car represents a crucial but often overlooked element of F1 safety, showcasing the specialized vehicles that ensure immediate medical response when every second counts.
Terms in This Story
- FIA
- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the governing body for world motor sport.
- Medical Car
- A vehicle used in motor racing to deliver emergency medical personnel to accident scenes quickly.
- Safety Car
- A vehicle deployed during a race to neutralize speeds under caution periods, allowing safe track clearance.
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