Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class 2009 News

Forecasting a win was a big call for a bloke who does not like to pump-up his own tyres, but Webber was always confident that the Red Bull RB5 was a winning car. And now he's down it. In absolutely dominant style.Webber's win in the German Grand Prix reminded me a lot of Michael Schumacher, his F1 role model, as he qualified on pole position, biffed Rubens Barrichello on the run to the first corner, then recovered from a Stewards penalty to outdrive his rivals with speed, skill and commitment. It was typical of the drive and talent which has taken Webber to the top of global motorsport, and the wild ride from Formula Ford in Australia to the top step of the podium.I've been a Webber fan for many years, and have many great memories of time with the bloke - like hot lapping at Calder Park in a Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR sports prototype - and there are plenty of others. But in this memorable week for Webber-mania it's worth mentioning a few, and talking about their commitment.Firstly, there is Ann Neal. She is Webber's long-term partner and has been the powerhouse for the whole project. The impact of his first win hit me on Sunday night when Ann, who always stays in the background, stood with his helmet below the podium. Ann had to be forced to go by David Coulthard, but admits it was something she had to do.Alan Webber needed no pushing to stand in the cheering crowd, and his wet eyes reflected his emotion. But I can remember many, many other times when Webber Snr has been there for his son, even watching him mow the lawn at their house in Britain. And he's a real motorsport enthusiast, too, who can tell you which of the young Aussies are worth watching.Geoff 'Joffa' Donohue first met Webber when he was working for one of his sponsors, Yellow Pages, and now he is part of the team and the man behind the Tasmanian sporting challenge. He is a ripper bloke who has done everything he can to help his hero make it to the top.And then there is motorsport publisher, Chris Lambden. He was one of the earliest sign-ups for the Webber train and has sacrificed many years of F1 tipping chances by pushing his man. When Webber drove an F1 car for the first time he paid his own way to be there, and that's a massive commitment. There are countless others who are part of the Webber team and it's great that all of us were able to celebrate this week.But as Mark would say, Germany is done and it's time to move on to the next success.

The sharpest knife in the Mercedes-Benz kitchen is being readied to carve through the sports-car scene in Australia. The Black Series development of the red-hot CLK63 AMG coupe should be capable of challenging Porsche and Ferrari when it lands in local showrooms next year. It has 360kW, a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h, right in the exotic league, and even comes with a stripped-out, race-style cabin with only two competition-style bucket seats. The 'Black' car originally failed the test for Australia because it sat too low, but it is being tweaked by AMG in Germany and fast-tracked for deliveries next year. “For sure, we want to do this. Next year will be the target,” AMG-Mercedes sales and marketing chief Mario Spitzner says. “We are getting close. We are on the way.” The regular CLK63 is already in the Mercedes-Benz line-up for Australia but the extreme machine, inspired by the silver star's racers in the German Touring Car Championship and the official Formula One pace car, has far more modifications. The troublesome change is lower suspension. It means the car fell 4mm to 20mm below the official height limit for Australia, depending on how and where the car was measured. Now AMG is working to raise the Black Series CLK to clear the bar and believes the work can be done without blunting the car's sharp focus. “If it is feasible and we can technically do it, then why not?,” Spitzner says. “We have some fans down there. If there is the demand from customers then we can do it.” Mercedes-Benz Australia believes it could sell as many as 50 cars, despite a price likely to be on the high side of $300,000. “We need 30 cars to make this work for AMG and for us. But maybe we would take as many as 50,” Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says. “But we think demand could be more than that. People are sick of common German sports cars and want something much more exclusive and focused, and with some room for luggage.” The Black car is definitely focused. Its range of upgrades take it well beyond anything that has ever worn a silver star in Australia. They include wider carbon-fibre guards, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, larger composite brake discs and a range of racy body changes that include a large front apron with cooling intakes for the engine and oil coolers, side skirts and a rear diffuser styled like an F1 car. There's also a limited-slip differential, special exhaust, differential oil cooler, completely different suspension parts and settings, suspension braces in the engine bay and boot, and electronic systems such as stability and traction control, which is adjusted for track work. The final decision on the Black Series deal will be made within a month. If the car is cleared, it could open the way for extra 'Black' edition models, including the SLK roadster that opened the action as a Benz for fast-car fans who want to put their cars to the sword on the track as well as the road.