The Mercedes-AMG GT Track Sport Is Coming With V-8 Power

Mercedes promised it would give us more V-8 cars, and sure enough, the GT Track Sport packs eight cylinders under the hood. What is it? It’s currently billed as a concept, but a production version is likely, as AMG says it “provides a preview of a possible expansion of the GT series.” Additionally, the folks from Affalterbach claim the “GT family is not yet complete.”

Although the concept has the word “track” in its name, we’re still holding out hope for a road-legal version. Mercedes-AMG’s upcoming next-gen GT3 race car must be based on a street-legal production model to comply with regulations, necessitating a homologation special to bridge the gap between road and track. We’re likely looking at a hardcore version positioned above the GT63 Pro in the car’s already vast lineup, which also includes a four-cylinder GT43 base model.

The spare wheel sitting next to the camouflaged prototype appears to be a meaty Michelin street tire, leading us to believe the GT Track Sport will get a license plate for public roads. Despite the camouflage plastered all over the car, it’s hard to miss the swan-neck rear wing or the large front splitter.

How much of the regular AMG GT is left remains unclear, but a track-focused derivative is likely to come strictly with a two-seat layout. AMG has been criticized for softening the second generation by adopting a 2+2 layout, effectively turning it into a coupe version of the SL. The Track Sport should restore some of the track cred, bringing the fight to the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Affalterbach wants to “set new standards and record times,” so a hot lap of the Nürburgring seems plausible. The old AMG GT Black Series conquered the Green Hell in 6 minutes and 48 seconds on the longer 20.8-kilometer (12.9-mile) configuration, claiming the production car record at the ’Ring back in 2020. However, a 911 GT2 RS with a Manthey Performance Kit dethroned it a year later with a 6:43.3 lap.

Mercedes-AMG eventually got its revenge with the One hypercar, posting a blistering 6:29.09. But the GT Track Sport is unlikely to beat that. A more realistic goal would be to surpass Porsche’s pace. That potential new record may already be under threat, though, as a new 911 GT2 RS is on the way.