•'Racing Tailfin' and 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II enrich historic motor sport

•'30 years of the Nürburgring GP track inaugural race' revival with the original winning vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16

•Mercedes-Benz DTM legends: seven former DTM racing drivers with three classic DTM vehicles

•Mercedes-Benz SSK in the 'Elephant Race'

Stuttgart. – At the Historic Trophy Nürburgring 2014 (30 May to 1 June 2014) Mercedes-Benz Classic is set to steal the limelight with an impressive range from 120 years of motor sport history. Numerous cars from the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection will be entering the starting blocks in the Eifel region, and in all likelihood there will be seven former racing drivers at the wheels of legendary racing touring cars.

After six years of the 'ADAC Eifel Race' the proven concept has a new name: the classic event is called the 'Historic Trophy Nürburgring'. The Nürburgring, one of the most popular racetracks in the world, has close links with the motor sport history of Mercedes-Benz. Even in the inaugural race on 19 June 1927, Rudolf Caracciola emerged victorious ahead of team mate Adolf Rosenberger in a Mercedes-Benz model S. The legendary Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were also born in the Eifel: at the beginning of June 1934, the W 25 came to the starting line in silver livery after – legend has it – the racing cars were first stripped of their white paint at the Nürburgring for weight reasons. Manfred von Brauchitsch promptly won the prestigious International Eifel Race in a new record time.

'As a long-term partner and the main sponsor of the event we can look back over a 120-year motor sport history brimming with successes. With exciting original vehicles and former racing drivers we want to rekindle the historic motor sport of bygone eras in an authentic way and thus conjure up further magic moments. This works especially well on the Nürburgring,' says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic.

Dunlop FHR Long-Distance Cup and Youngtimer Trophy

The current commitment to historic motor sport demonstrated by Mercedes-Benz Classic started back in 2011, when the traditional division of the Stuttgart-based brand built a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) to take part in the Dunlop FHR Long-Distance Cup. Since 2013, in addition to this vehicle which is affectionately referred to by fans as the 'Racing Tailfin', a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (W 201) has also been taking to the starting grid of the Youngtimer Trophy.

The Dunlop FHR Long-Distance Cup and the Youngtimer Trophy represent two different eras of touring car motor sport – and yet at the same time also complement each other in an ideal manner. While the FHR Long-Distance Cup organised by the Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e.V. (FHR) pits GT vehicles and touring cars manufactured from 1947 to 1975 against each other, the Youngtimer Trophy is for vehicles dating from 1966 to 1990. The regulations for both race series are essentially geared towards the standards applicable to the homologation of the original historic models. This helps to ensure the maximum authenticity and originality of the racing cars which take part. In the 'Historic Trophy Nürburgring' races are held for both series.

In the three-hour race as part of the Youngtimer Trophy on Saturday, 31 May 2014, Brand Ambassador Bernd Schneider will be lining up on the starting grid in a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (known as the EVO II for short). The EVO II is honouring the 120-year motor sport anniversary of the brand in a very special way. For its second season as the works racing car competing in the Youngtimer Trophy, the motor racing touring car built in line with Group A regulations has been kitted out with special body stickers: historic photo motifs tell the story of motor sport from its origins 120 years ago, through the first triumphs in the DTM to Mercedes-Benz's current racing activities.

The 220 SE 'Tailfin' Saloon (W 111) is already enjoying its fourth season competing in the Dunlop FHR Long-Distance Cup. In the three-hour race also to be held on Saturday, 31 May 2014, the 'Racing Tailfin' will be piloted by Jörg van Ommen. Sporting an authentic grey paint finish, the car complies with the provisions of Appendix K to the international sports law issued by the FIA (Féderation Internationale de l'Automobile). The major successes achieved by the 220 SE in the 1960s include victories at the European Rally Championships in 1960 and 1962, as well a win for Ewy Rosqvist and Ursula Wirth at the VI Argentinian Touring Car Grand Prix of 1962.

SSK on the starting grid at the 'Elephant Race'

On Sunday, 1 June 2014 the 166 kW (225 hp) Mercedes-Benz SSK (W 06) invites enthusiasts on a journey to a particularly glorious era in motorsport history. Brand Ambassador Jochen Mass will be competing in the supercharged sports car dating from 1928 in the 'Elephant Race'. The race for cars of the 1920s and early 1930s alludes back to the era which also witnessed the Nürburgring's inaugural race in 1927. That race's victorious Rudolf Caracciola, who was later to become the idol of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows era, laid the foundation for his honorary title of the times, that of 'Master of the Nürburgring', with his win.

DTM legends: original cars and their drivers

A particularly colourful and exciting chapter in the motor sport history of Mercedes-Benz will be opened on Saturday and Sunday (31 May/1 June 2014) by the Brand Ambassadors and former DTM racing drivers Roland Asch, Bernd Schneider, Ellen Lohr, Klaus Ludwig, Kurt Thiim and Jörg van Ommen: the DTM commitment of the brand with the three-pointed star. At the '30 years of the inaugural race at the Nürburgring GP track' revival with the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16, the original winning car from 1984 of the then 24-year-old Brazilian Ayrton Senna, plus rides on the Grand Prix track exclusively for members of the official brand club, all eyes will be on the racing versions of the Mercedes Benz 190 (W 201) model. In 1988, Mercedes-Benz commenced its involvement in the German Touring Car Championships with the model 190 E 2.3-16 (W 201). Since then the brand has been continuously active in the series, which was conducted in its original form until 1996 and revised as today's German Touring Car Masters (DTM) in 2000. Since 1994, Mercedes-Benz has competed in the DTM with racing touring cars derived from the C-Class cars current at the time.

The 'Historic Trophy Nürburgring' weekend offers lovers of historic racing a multitude of training runs and races plus a colourful supporting programme. Highlights on the agenda in 2014 are once again Mercedes-Benz Classic's presentation of numerous vehicles from the officially recognised Mercedes-Benz brand clubs in the paddock area and the gathering of brand clubs. The colourful supporting programme also includes opportunities for the club members: exclusive parking in the paddock, taxi rides with former DTM cars on the Grand Prix track at the Nürburgring, autograph sessions, meetings with the Brand Ambassadors, and more.