Mercedes McLaren celebrates 20 years of the SLR

Published by

Tom Kilkelly

Credit: McLaren

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is 20 years old, to celebrate the milestone McLaren is hosted a number of activities at its Woking Technology Centre.

This iconic collaboration between Mercedes and Mclaren was reflected in activities centred around both the car and the teams of people behind it.

Four examples of the grand tourer designed and engineered to supercar standards were showcased on the MTC Boulevard, alongside items from the car’s development story. A visit to MTC by the SLR Club, a group of SLR enthusiasts, allowed members of the club to meet some of the McLaren team that worked on the project.

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Initially announced as 'Project 7' at Silverstone in 1999, the famous super-GT car was produced by the Mercedes/Mclaren team up until 2009 when the collaboration ended. McLaren has since built upon the foundations of 'Project 7' with the McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

The shape and styling of the car were kept as close to Mercedes’ requirements as possible. McLaren’s expertise in carbon fibre composites, something the company gleaned from its experience in Formula 1, made the design possible.

The first Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren customer delivery took place in summer 2004 and more than 2,000 were produced across all versions.

Additional versions of the car included the 722 Edition Coupe, introduced in 2006. A tribute to Sir Stirling Moss and his landmark victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia, the 722 Edition saw the car's engine power increase to 650PS.

McLaren and Mercedes-Benz were partners in Formula 1 between 1995 to 2009, during which McLaren won four Formula 1 World Championships. The combination of McLaren's chassis development and Mercedes-Benz's engine proved popular amongst fans of the sport.

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.