Actros Goes Red Bull Racing

In-depth

12 Apr

There have not been many as successful at their chosen profession as seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup. Add in 2016 Supercars championship winner and current series leader, Shane van Gisbergen and it’s easy to see why these guys attract the sponsorship of Red Bull – a company who likes to back winners.

When the time came to update the pulling power of the Red Bull Racing Team B-double, the guys had to look no further than Mulgrave – the home of Daimler Truck and Bus, and their excellent Mercedes Benz Actros. Daimler have come on board as a sponsor and supplier of the team’s trucks, which will carry the cars and a vast amount of spares and team gear.

**Jamie Whincup behind the wheel of a somewhat different drive**

Whincup, who holds an MC licence, was on hand to collect the keys to the top of the line Actros prime mover at Daimler Truck and Bus headquarters recently and took the truck for a quick drive.

From the two 12” customisable dash screens, to the unique MirrorCam rear vision ‘mirrors’ and everything in between - Active Brake Assist, Predictive Powertrain Control and the myriad other features of the Actros, Whincup was blown away.

“The cab is a real stand out,” he said. “It’s really impressive how much of the technology you see in Mercedes-Benz cars is also in these trucks.”

Jamie, who is competing in his last full season of Supercars, welcomed Daimler Trucks on board as a sponsor and supplier of the team’s trucks. “We always want to work with the leaders in each field and it’s clear that Daimler Trucks is a leader with advanced trucks like this Actros.”

Whincup is hoping to hit the road for a longer run in the Actros on the way to one of the events during this season, but regular driving duties fall to experienced transporter driver Dave Lewin.

This range-topping 16-litre Actros produces 625hp of power, not far off the ‘635hp-plus’ output of the Red Bull Ampol Racing Holdens it hauls, but the big Mercedes-Benz also makes a hefty 3000Nm of torque which definitely puts Jaimie’s Holden V8 Supercar in the shade.