Mercedes-Benz Shows 11 Legendary Race Cars at Goodwood, Unveils CLA 45 4MATIC+
Mercedes-Benz Classic wowed crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with eleven iconic racing cars from 1937 to 2006, while also unveiling the all-electric Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+.
- 500 kW (680 hp)
- 3.0 seconds
- over 300 km/h
- 30 years
What Happened
Mercedes-Benz Classic brought eleven legendary racing cars to the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held from 9 to 12 July. The display spanned from the 1937 W 125 Silver Arrow to the 2006 AMG-Mercedes C-Class DTM, all seen in action on the Hillclimb course. The event also featured the world premiere of the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+, presented by current F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes-Benz Heritage event at Brooklands: '140 Years of Innovation' and '30 Years of Mercedes-AMG Safety Cars'.
Goodwood Festival of Speed with eleven classic Mercedes-Benz race cars and the CLA 45 world premiere.
Up to 500 kW (680 hp)hp
Three axial-flux motors; 0-100 km/h in 3.0 seconds.
Among the highlights were the W 125 Grand Prix car, reaching over 300 km/h and winning the 1937 European Championship, and the 1955 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, the world's most valuable car at €135 million. Mercedes-AMG also celebrated 30 years of Formula 1 Safety Cars, featuring models like the C 36 AMG and CLK 55 AMG.
- Mercedes-Benz W 125 (1937 Silver Arrow)
- Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 194, 1952)
- Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S, 1955)
- Mercedes-Benz C 11 (1990 World Champion)
- Penske-Mercedes PC 23 (1994 Indy 500 winner)
- Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM (1998 FIA GT Champion)
Previously from Mercedes-Benz
At the recent British Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position and his first Sprint victory for Mercedes, while George Russell finished second. Antonelli leads the drivers' standings, making his appearance at Goodwood particularly notable.
- Antonelli Takes Pole and Sprint Win at British GP, Russell P4
- George Russell Takes Home Podium at British GP; Antonelli's Win Hopes Dashed by Wheel Shield Failure
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Mercedes-Benz's official releases.
Why this matters
The event highlights Mercedes-Benz's deep motorsport heritage and its transition to electric performance. The new CLA 45 shows how the brand blends racing DNA with zero-emission technology, impacting buyers interested in high-performance EVs.
Terms in This Story
- Silver Arrow
- Nickname for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix and sports racing cars, known for their silver color and racing success.
- Hillclimb
- A motorsport event where cars race uphill against the clock on a closed road course.
- Safety Car
- A vehicle used in Formula 1 to neutralize the race during dangerous conditions, ensuring safety.
- DTM
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, a German touring car racing series.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.