Mercedes legendary DTM racer

While the renamed Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) was first contested by privately entered Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16s in 1986, it was not until 1988 that the Three-Pointed Star made its factory debut in the competition. The German manufacturer had designs to conquer the field alongside its long-time technical partner, AMG. Incumbent champion, Klaus Ludwig, was poached from arch-rivals, Ford, to spearhead Mercedes-Benz’s 1989 campaign, yet the next three seasons were characterised by relative underachievement.

For 1992, Mercedes-Benz recruited future DTM legend Bernd Schneider to join Ludwig, Keke Rosberg and Ellen Lohr at AMG’s four-car “super team”. The 190 E had by now transformed into spectacular Evolution II form and Rosberg took AMG’s first win at Wunstorf in early May. It was a result that was repeated by the team on a further 10 occasions that year. In total, Mercedes-Benz won 16 of the 24 Championship rounds held. By contrast, BMW claimed only seven and Audi just one. Ludwig emerged a worthy Champion ahead of Zakspeed’s Kurt Thiim and Schneider; the latter pair separated by a single point at the season’s end.

This is Schneider’s car from that landmark 1992 season. Entered in all 24 Championship rounds, it took four race wins, including a noteworthy double-win at Singen, two 2nd places, two 3rd places, and seven fastest laps. Subsequently acquired by the DTM Junior Team, it was entered for Mercedes-Benz wunderkind Sandy Grau in the 1993 Championship, in which it took a further nine top-10 finishes, including 6th at Avus in its final DTM race.

This stunning 1992 AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II DTM 'Gruppe A' is available as part of RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba auction on the 20th May 2023. Photos © Keno Zache / RM Sotheby’s