Mercedes-Benz M291 [1] [2] | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
Production | 1991-1992 |
Layout | |
Configuration | 180° V-12 |
Displacement | 3.5 L (214 cu in) |
Cylinder bore | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Piston stroke | 50.1 mm (1.97 in) |
Valvetrain | 48-valve, DOHC, four-valves per cylinder |
Combustion | |
Fuel system | Fuel injection |
Oil system | Dry sump |
Output | |
Power output | 550–718 hp (410–535 kW) [3] |
Torque output | 400 N⋅m (300 lb⋅ft) |
The Mercedes-Benz M291 engine is a 3.5-liter flat-12 racing engine, designed, developed and produced by Mercedes-Benz, for their Group C racing program. It was introduced in 1991, along with their new Mercedes-Benz C291 prototype race car chassis. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
The 1991 season marked the introduction of the FIA’s new, and controversial, 3.5-liter formula which replaced the highly successful Group C category that had been used in the World Sportscar Championship since 1982, though due to a small number of entries for the 3.5-liter formula heavily penalized Group C cars (which were subject to weight penalties and started behind the new-style C1 entries on the grid) were allowed to participate in the season's C2 category.
The primary feature of the new regulations was the use of a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine. This made it impossible for Mercedes-Benz to use the engines from its previous Group C cars. Also, to produce similar power to the Group C cars a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine had to be very high-revving and be constructed from different materials in order to rev highly.
Unlike Jaguar's XJR-14 who had the readily available and proven Ford HB V8 engine from the Benetton B190B Formula One car (the engine regulations for the new 3.5-liter formula were identical to Formula One), Mercedes-Benz had to design an all-new purpose-built racing engine and its M-291 3.5L Flat-12 [9] unit was the result. The engine only produced about 550–600 brake horsepower (410–450 kW), compared to over 730 brake horsepower (540 kW) produced by 5.0 litre V8 twin-turbo found in the C291's predecessor, the Sauber-Mercedes C11.
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where two banks of six cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V12 engines are more common than V10 engines. However, they are less common than V8 engines.
A flat-twelve engine, also known as a horizontally opposed-twelve, is a twelve-cylinder piston engine with six cylinders on each side of a central crankshaft.
Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is the high-performance subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG. AMG independently hires engineers and contracts with manufacturers to customize Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles. The company has its headquarters in Affalterbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Ilmor is a British independent high-performance motor racing engineering company. It was founded by Mario Illien and Paul Morgan in November 1983. With manufacturing based in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, and maintenance offices in Plymouth, Michigan, the company supplies engines and consultancy to the IndyCar Series and MotoGP.
Judd is a brand of racing car engines built by Engine Developments Ltd., a company founded in 1971 by John Judd and Jack Brabham in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Engine Developments was intended to build engines for Brabham's racing efforts, and became one of the first firms authorised by Cosworth to maintain and rebuild its DFV engines, but has since expanded into various areas of motorsport.
The 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 59th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 22 and 23 June 1991. It was also the fourth round of the 1991 FIA Sportscar World Championship season.
The Mercedes-Benz C11 is a Group C prototype race car introduced for the 1990 World Sports-Prototype Championship. Built by Sauber as a successor to the Sauber C9, the C11 used the same Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0L twin turbo V8. It was the first time that Mercedes-Benz chose to put their name on the car, instead of simply using Sauber.
The Jaguar XJR-14 is a sports-prototype racing car introduced for the 1991 World Sportscar Championship season. It was designed by Ross Brawn and John Piper, and was built and run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), on behalf of Jaguar Cars.
The Mercedes-Benz C291 was a sports-prototype racing car introduced for the 1991 World Sportscar Championship season. It was Mercedes-Benz’ final car in the Group C category.
The Mercedes-Benz C292 was a stillborn Group C prototype race car intended for the 1992 World Sportscar Championship season as an evolution of the Mercedes-Benz C291, but never raced due to Mercedes-Benz withdrawing from sportscar racing after a dismal 1991 season.
Throughout its long history, Mercedes-Benz has been involved in a range of successful motorsport activities, including sportscar racing, touring car racing, Grand Prix racing, and rallying. It is currently active in GT racing, and Formula One. Mercedes is also one of only three constructors to complete the Triple Crown of Motorsport, a feat that Mercedes achieved as both a chassis manufacturer and an engine manufacturer by winning the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Jaguar XJR-11 was a sports-prototype racing car introduced for the 1989 World Sports Prototype Championship, while its sister car the XJR-10 was introduced to compete in IMSA series races.
A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
Mercedes-Benz W202 is the internal designation for a compact sedan/saloon manufactured and marketed by Mercedes-Benz between 1992–2001, as the first generation of the C-Class, now in its fifth generation. Replacing the 190 series/W201 in June 1993, the C-Class sedan was Mercedes' entry-level model until 1997, when the company launched the A-Class. Production reached 1,847,382 over model years 1994–2000.
Ferrari manufactured a series of 3.0-litre, naturally-aspirated, V10 racing engines, exclusively for their Formula One race cars; between 1996 and 2005. They chose a V10 engine configuration, because it offered the best compromise between power and fuel efficiency; the V12 was powerful but thirsty while the V8 was weaker but economical. They switched to 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine configuration for 2006. Over its decade-long evolution, power levels varied; from 715 hp @ 15,500 rpm in 1996, to over 900 horsepower, around 935 hp @ 19,000 rpm, toward the end of the 2005 season. The Tipo 05 series of engines, produced between 2001 and 2005, was officially stated to produce between 825 hp @ 17,800 rpm, and 865 hp @ 18,300 rpm. In qualifying mode, however, these engine were reputed to develop up to, or at times over, 900 horsepower (670 kW) at 19,000 rpm.
Ferrari has manufactured three naturally-aspirated V8 racing engines, designed for Formula One racing. First, the Tipo DS50 engine introduced in 1956; with the 2.5 L engine configuration. Second, the Tipo 205/B engine, introduced in 1964; with the 1.5 L engine configuration; and was designed by Franco Rocchi and Angelo Bellei. Then, a 42-year hiatus; until the FIA imposed a 2.4 L engine V8 configuration for all Formula One teams in 2006, with Ferrari introducing their Tipo 056; designed by Gilles Simon.
The Toyota RV8 engine family is a series of race car engines designed, developed and produced by Toyota Racing Development. They come in 2.65-liter, 3.0-liter and 3.4-liter, turbocharged and naturally-aspirated, V8 racing engine versions. They are used in the CART series, IRL IndyCar Series, Formula Nippon, Super GT, and Le Mans Prototype sports car racing, from 1996 to 2015. The naturally-aspirated engine, formerly used in Formula Nippon and Super GT, is itself derived from the Toyota Indy V8 Indy car racing V8 engine.
The Mercedes-Benz DTM V8 engine is a prototype, four-stroke, 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated V-8 racing engines, developed and produced by Mercedes-Benz for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, between 2000 and 2018.
The Mercedes-Benz M106 engine is a high-revving, prototype, four-stroke, 2.5-liter, naturally aspirated, V-6 racing engine, designed, developed and produced by Mercedes-Benz for the DTM and later ITC, between 1994 and 1996.
Mercedes used the interval wisely, as did Jean Todt with the Peugeots. Under the direction of Dr Hiereth, the C291's injection system was improved with 12 butterfly flaps instead of four, raising the power to 640 horsepower at 13,200 rpm.