Biblical clouds breeze throughout the sky above, vacillating between transient, wonderful 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 automobile or the observe earlier than, I’m not fearful. The sky is blue as I stroll towards the herd of pink and grey automobiles, and as I strategy, the growl of a gaggle of burbling twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8s steadily grows louder. My interior little one is grinning from ear to ear. As I choose the most important helmet obtainable and squeeze it over my gargantuan cranium, it immediately begins to pour down rain. “Nicely, I suppose that is gonna be an actual take a look at of the brand new AMG GT63 Professional’s supposed driver friendliness,” I believe to myself as I watch for 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 observe, so there are not any on-road impressions on this evaluate. I’m endlessly grateful for this chance to recollect how cool my job is, and to expertise the fantastic thing about the Andalusian area.
The GT63 Professional is supposed to be each approachable each day driver and succesful observe day automobile that helps drivers squeeze out the very best lap occasions, in distinction to the previous-generation AMG GT R Professional that was a devoted observe assault machine and didn’t coddle drivers in any means at any time. This isn’t a direct alternative for that automobile, however clarifying the naming similarity is so as. Like different second-gen AMG GTs, the GT63 Professional has commonplace 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 automobile, however regardless of the extra energy, the 0-to-60-mph time stays the identical at 3.1 seconds. Improved observe day longevity comes courtesy of aero tweaks for elevated downforce and cooling, water cooling for all three differentials, two extra radiators for a grand whole of 4, and commonplace carbon-ceramic brakes with further 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 informed me to anticipate the Professional’s beginning value to be across the $200,000 mark, about $20,000 greater than a standard GT63. That’s quite a lot of automobile to be taking round a moist observe 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 thought of what to anticipate. One warm-up lap to familiarize ourselves with issues, three scorching laps, and one cool-down lap. “I simply should make it via 5 laps with out going off, I can do that,” I believe. Certain, I’m licensed in efficiency driving and car dealing with, however I’ve by no means pushed on the infamous Ascari earlier than, and my first scorching laps will probably be within the rain. I modify every little thing to my liking, and Bernd begins to drag on observe. I pop the AMG GT into drive, flip the wipers to full velocity, and take a deep breath. Even Eminem would wrestle to grasp how apocalyptically sweaty my palms are, however we’re on the observe now so focus, Logan.
My first laps on the circuit are frankly terrifying. I exploit all my mind energy to thumb via 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 observe in a automobile with over 600 horsepower funneled to the street via chilly Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, a stickier no-cost possibility not supplied on the bottom automobile. Evidently I’m principally shitting myself for 5 laps, however I make it again to the pits with out ruining the automobile or my fame. The AMG GT63 Professional is surprisingly pleasant on the soaking wet observe, however I’m grateful for traction management as there are a number of alarming and fully needed interventions. On the chilly tires and moist observe, I discover each understeer and oversteer, and don’t let myself belief the automobile’s downforce to maintain me glued mid-corner. Maybe towards my greatest judgment, I instantly request one other run.
Mercifully, the skies clear and the sheets of water are largely dried up by the point my second probability comes alongside. We hit the flawlessly clean asphalt floor of Ascari for spherical two, and I’m prepared. This time, I let the automobile do the work and am in a position to belief it to remain glued to the course via the high-speed turns. The GT63 Professional isn’t a razor-sharp observe assault monster, but it surely’s extremely succesful, particularly when taking corners at velocity. AMG labored to scale back front-end raise at excessive speeds whereas additionally rising downforce on the rear, and on the dry observe I’m astonished by how a lot the automobile stays planted regardless of mid-corner bumps and occasional moist patches. The rear-wheel steering retains it feeling surprisingly managed, even once I roll onto the throttle too closely on nook exit and the rear will get a bit squirrely. It doesn’t really feel notably 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 problem of steering precision or velocity, however particularly on a moist observe I must know extra concerning 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 computerized transmission does an excellent job of choosing the right gear on the observe, and it possesses the very best trait {that a} transmission can possess: you’ll be able to belief it, and also you by no means should suppose 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 automobile feels a lot able to laying down some nice occasions whereas remaining snug, however general 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 Heart, 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 observe. 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 will 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, but it surely’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 automobile vibe. Mercedes-AMG’s aim for the Professional was to create a automobile able to being a snug and splendid each day driver whereas concurrently having the ability to excel on the observe. It’s an excellent automobile, however I used to be left desirous to know extra concerning the relationship between the GT63 Professional’s wheels and the wonderful race observe beneath them. For those who’re a contemporary Mercedes-AMG fan, then you definitely’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 automobile that doesn’t defy its luxurious roots.
