Watch the highlights of Race 1 at NOLA Motorsports Park.
A flawless performance in New Orleans, puts Michael Auriemma and Tommy Johnson and the MB Gram #89 RENNtech AMG GT4 on the podium in the AM Class.
After qualifying in an outstanding P6 in Class, Tommy Johnson started the Sunday race for RENNtech. Johnson pushed hard while avoiding a couple early race scuffles as he was able to survive both Safety Car periods without any incidents.
Tommy Johnson started Race 1 P6 and gained one position before driver change.
At the half way mark, Michael Auriemma took over from Johnson with the car in P5. While steadily increasing his pace, Michael closed the gap to the leading cars. He crossed the checkered flag close to our competitors and steered clear of a few potential incidents. The #89 AMG GT4 finished P3 in class due to 2 post race penalties and scored the first podium for RENNtech Motorsports in 2023.
Michael Auriemma continued the race in P5 and finished P, getting our first podium of the season.
“We had a good weekend - the Team delivered a great car for the race and scoring our first podium feels fantastic! We intend to capitalize on this momentum moving forward, and we’ll be looking for more Podiums at COTA” said Team Manager Sascha Kempter.
RENNtech President Hartmut Feyhl and RENNtech Motorsports Manager Sasha Kempter
Severe weather on Saturday led to delays in the schedule. Due to the nearing sunset, Saturdays Race ultimately had to be postponed and will be made up during Round 6 at Sebring International Raceway Sep 22-24. With only Race 1 in the books, RENNtech Motorsports left NOLA with 15 additional points keeping MB Gram #89 RENNtech Motorsports AMG GT4 in the hunt for the championship.
The next race weekend will be held May 19 – 21, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.
For more about the RENNtech Motorsports program, please visit our website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
On the 22nd of April, we hosted our second Open Garage
event. We extended an invitation to our friends, family, and esteemed
customers to participate in a unique and engaging experience. The event
provided an opportunity to dive into the technical aspects of our projects,
while indulging in delicious snacks and refreshing drinks provided by Celsius
and Muscle Vodka and the life size Eurosim F1 simulator.
Public events are a part of car culture, and RENNtech company has participated in dozens of shows, events, and happenings over the past year. As we
opened our doors to allow visitors to witness our operations up close, our engineers, techs, and product specialists were available to chat and offer insights into the
day-to-day workings of our business. Attendees were able to witness our tuning
processes with a Ferrari F488 Spider on the dyno, followed by a TechTalk presentation on the
performance development of the AMG GT and GT63 models.
The event was a great success, and we received positive feedback from
attendees. We would like to thank everyone who attended, and we look forward to
welcoming you to our next Open Garage event.
April 11, 2023
Pirelli GT4 America SONOMA 2023 Wrap Up
SRO’s Pirelli GT4 America -series
is one of the most exciting and intense GT -racing series in the world. The
2023 season opener at Sonoma Raceway was no exception, with some of the best GT
-teams and drivers from around the world competing for the top spot. The
RENNtech Motorsports team along with drivers Michael Auriemma and Thomas
Johnson, was fully geared up to deliver a dominant performance with the MB Gram
RENNtech Motorsports #89 AMG GT4.
The weekend started off with practice sessions, where both
drivers had a chance to show their potential and posting an impressive lap time
of 1:49:781 in the second session. The team's engineers worked hard to
fine-tune the car for the qualifying rounds where Tommy Johnson posted a
1:48:258 lap time good enough for P26 overall in a grid of 43 cars.
Race 1 was a thrilling display of
door-to-door racing in one of the most scenic raceways in America. After a
bumpy start, the 60-minute-long race ran its course without major incidents,
with Michael Auriemma bringing the car across the finish line P15 in class.
Race 2 brought the same intensity to the track. Starting
from P36 overall Michael Auriemma drove a clean first stint, handing over the
reins to Tommy Johnson midway of the race. After a crash brought on a full
course yellow at the final minutes of the race, Tommy Johnson secured a P6
in class.
The team and drivers showed their ability to compete at the
highest level, with the MB Gram RENNtech Motorsports #89 AMG GT4 proving to be very
quick on the grid. The team's engineers and mechanics also demonstrated their skills,
keeping the car running smoothly throughout the weekend.
In conclusion, the opening of the Pirelli GT4 America series
at the Sonoma Raceway was a thrilling event, showcasing the growing popularity
of GT -racing in America. The RENNtech team put up a strong performance in this
very demanding race. Each race is a great experience which helps us get even
stronger. We can't wait for the next heat at NOLA Motorsports Park, April 29 –
31.
Let’s race!
Classic restoration is becoming a significant part of
RENNtech’s craft. The iconic G Wagen, in particular, holds a special place in
the heritage of Mercedes-Benz. What you see is 1993 Mercedes-Benz G Class X461;
a military vehicle that served for the Swiss Army.
In 2018, a client of ours imported this vehicle from the
Netherlands, where it had undergone partial restoration and repaint in classic
M.B. China Blue (934). Furthermore, the car had been fitted with a range of
new components, including suspension, top, and a set of wheels, to bolster its
aesthetic appeal.
Built for military purpose and off road travel, the Gelande
Wagen (German terminology for G Wagen), was in a good shape but was severely
underpowered for modern daily driving. Dyno tested at RENNtech, the 2.3-liter
4-cylinder M102 produced 70 WHP which good for traversing backroads of the Austrian alps,
but not enough accelerate and keep up with South Florida highway traffic, so the
owner turned to us create something more powerful for enjoyable and safe daily
driving.
Being familiar with improving the performance and driving characteristics
of G Class, we chose the rock-solid M.B. 5.5 liter M113 V8 -engine with 350 HP,
and matching it to a 722.6 G 5 speed automatic for modern day performance.
The military purpose truck base is much different from road going
vehicles, and the “little blue truck” will need several updates and
modifications to fit the new powerplant and drivetrain, before the focus can
shift to the development of a bespoke interior tailored to this vehicle.
Stay tuned!
Removing the original 2.3-liter 4-cylinder M102
Mercedes-AMG M113 5.5 -liter V8
G-Wagen ready to receive more power.
New motor mounts are part of fitting the V8 in place of the 4 -cylinder.
Known for Mercedes-Benz AMG performance tuning, RENNtech’s Power Module (RPM) now offers the same powerful ECU tuning for a wide range of European Luxury and Performance vehicles.
The most recent addition to the list of RENNtech tuned vehicles is the 2023 Land
Rover Range Rover. Powered by a 4.4 liter Twin Turbo V8 the factory published
power figures are 523 HP and 553 LB FT of torque. Tested on the DYNO at
RENNtech, the Range Rover produced 588 HP and 650 LT-FT of torque, 65 HP and 97
LB-FT more power than advertised.
The RPM is a “piggy-back” style ECU upgrade designed to pull additional power
from the engine by adjusting fuel-to-air ratio, ignition timing, and throttle
mapping through RENNtech’s proprietary software.
With tune installed, the Range Rover feels equally smooth as before, but is
quicker from the start with a stronger pull at higher speeds. Most noticeable are
the pulls between 60 and 130 mph where the 5500+ lbs Range Rover needs it the most.
The RPM is designed for daily driving and comes with RENNtech’s standard 2 year
product warranty. Installing the RPM is straightforward and can be done within
2-3 hours by one of RENNtech’s Dealers, or, if mechanically inclined
with proper tools the install can be done at home.
The Range Rover sits at the top of the luxury SUV food
chain, and with RENNtech’s Power upgrade the Rover inches closer to AMG GLS 63
in performance.
SuperCar
Week 2023 was nine days of automotive events hosted throughout Palm Beach
County. This year the weeklong series of events culminated at the Grand Finale
on the West Palm Beach Waterfront, with over 100,000 enthusiasts gathering to
participate in the excitement.
RENNtech AMG GT Development Vehicle.
RENNtech
showed up in force, staking a claim on the lawn for modern and classics
Mercedes-Benz and a selection of pre-merger AMG’s. Visitors got up close and
personal with RENNtech Development Vehicles, the AMG GT and CLS 53 AMG, while
our Engineer’s were on hand answering questions and talking cars.
RENNtech Development Car, CLS 53 AMG.
The
gullwing doors of the SLR McLaren, one in silver and another 722 -version in black,
were showstoppers and are destined to draw a crowd anywhere these very special
vehicles show up. The SLR “super grand tourers” still look striking among the
super and hyper cars of today.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 edition.
RENNtech
Classics received a great amount of attention and as a result started
fascinating conversations between Hartmut Feyhl and visitors. With the growing interest in
pre-merger AMG vehicles, RENNtech has become the destination for collectors who
are looking to bring back the performance of these iconic machines.
The Originals. Hartmut Feyhl and 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300 E 6.0 AMG "Hammer"
This
year we were lucky to bring the original E300 6.0 AMG “Silver Hammer” which was
restored and repowered at RENNtech in 2022. The Hammer was flanked by a 560 SEL
6.0 AMG, and a fully restored 560 SEC 6.0 Widebody.
RENNtech Classics restored 560 SEC 6.0 Widebody
These
special vehicles got to share a ride with RENNtech Motorsports #89 MB Gram AMG
GT4 in the Motorsports Team trailer. Part of the Race Village, the AMG GT4 was
resting on the lawn in front of mega yachts enjoying the cool and sunny day
before heading to pre-season testing for the upcoming SRO GT4 America -season.
RENNtech Motorsports #89 MB Gram AMG GT4 Racecar
Big shoutout
to the everyone at RENNtech that worked hard and brought their best to the show,
and all the men and women who brought a great variety of extraordinary cars to
make this show a success. None of this would have been possible without the
exceptional work of Neil London, SuperCar Week President and Executive
Producer.
It was a
pleasure to exchange views and thoughts with other car enthusiasts, and we are
already looking forward to next year!
The previous W463 G-class gained great popularity in North America and remains a bastion on the luxury SUV market three decades after its 1990 debut. The iconic design combined with Mercedes-Benz reliability has made the early G’s highly sought after on the secondary market. However, the military-purpose chassis design does have serious limitations when it comes to road handling and modern-day traffic at high speeds.
Working together with Öhlins, the engineers at RENNtech set out to create the best possible two-way adjustable suspension for the G Wagen. Utilizing Öhlins’ patented STX-technology for a smoother, more controlled, and enjoyable ride, the goal was to improve on the handling without sacrificing offroad capabilities or comfort.
The new suspension offers individual compression and rebound adjustments which allows the driver to tailor the ride quality to their specific needs and style of driving. Whether commuting along highways or back roads, the suspension provides superior ride quality under all conditions.
The kit is based on the proven Öhlins 16/46 shock absorbers and is designed for original ride height using OEM springs. Tested over thousands of miles of different road types and surfaces, RENNtech has created recommended settings for off-road and on-road comfort, delivering highest possible performance and modern driving feel for the 1990 – 2018 W436 G-Class.
Drivers Thomas
Johnson and Michael Auriemma used the opportunity to get familiar
with the performance and handling of the AMG GT4 -machine, while the team was monitoring
performance and working on car set up.
Cool
conditions prevailed on track early Friday morning causing a few cars to slip
off track and cutting the first session short. As the day got warmer and the
drivers were dialed-in to the capabilities of the Mercedes-AMG GT4, lap times
kept on improving.
“Sebring is
a serious test for both drivers and the car. The uneven surface of Sebring
Raceway is the ideal place for drivers to get familiar with the vehicle on a
track and for the Team to perform a shake-down of the car. Track day testing as
a great opportunity for us to see in which direction are we going before the
upcoming season.” Said Sascha Kempter, RENNtech Motorsports Team Director.
The season opener of the GT America Powered by AWS kicks-off in St. Petersburg,
March 3rd, while the SRO Pirelli GT4 America -series will start at
Sonoma Raceway, March 30th.
Powered by a 615 hp, 7.6 -liter M120
V12 engine, the S76R is the most powerful naturally aspirated V12
built by RENNtech and the largest displacement on record for the Mercedes Benz
M120.
2022 RENNtech S76R
Building the perfect W140.
In 1992 RENNtech turned out the first
performance versions of the Mercedes-Benz M120 V12 -engine. Bored and stroked
to a displacement of 7.4-liters and with up to 585 hp of power, these super engines
found their way to the RENNtech SL 74 (R129), CL 74 (C140), and the S 74
(W140) through the 1990's.
Fast forward 30 years and RENNtech is following the same blueprints from an era of naturally aspirated and over-engineered luxury by turning a 1992 600 SEL into a 2022 RENNtech S76R through a complete restoration, re-power and interior re-fit.
1997 RENNtech SL 74
Power: RENNtech bored and
stroked the 6.0-liter V12 to an astounding 7.6 -liters, resulting in the
largest M120 V12 -engine to date. With the addition of lightweight pistons,
titanium connecting rods, beehive springs and titanium retainers for improved
spring rate and lighter mass, AMG performance cams, ported heads, custom built
airboxes, larger injectors, and fitted with a MY 96 ME-1 engine management
system complete with rebuilt wiring harness and RENNtech ECU Performance Tune,
the S76R engine is also the most powerful N/A M120 -engine built by RENNtech.
Rated at 615 hp and 703 lb-ft of torque, the M120 -engine produces 213 hp and
275 lb-ft of torque over the stock 6.0-liter (402 hp / , 80 hp more than the
ultra rare AMG 7.3-liter found in the SL 73 AMG, S 73 AMG, and CL 73 AMG, and
just shy of the 631 hp Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR super car.
Through an extremely labor intense process, the 1992 600 SEL was upgraded to
model year 1996 engine management (ME-1) system to fit an RENNtech upgraded
722.6 electronic 5-speed transmission connected to an OS Giken Limited Slip
differential. The combination greatly improves power delivery and drivability
beyond what the original 4-speed transmission and differential could offer and
handle.
7.6 -liter V12 (M120) 605 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque
Handling: The S76R features a
bespoke braking system utilizing 402 mm (F) and 360 mm (R) Carbon Ceramic discs
with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear AMG brake calipers with custom aluminum
hats and brackets is connected to an 2nd generation ABS system. The new brake
system weighs nearly 3/4 less than the original system and creates incredible
stopping power for the S-Class. The large brakes were fitted inside
one-of-a-kind RENNtech Classics forged aluminum wheels measuring 19 x 9 (F) and
19 x 10.5 (R) with 285 wide rear tires for additional traction and grip, while
shorter coil-springs and a 2nd generation ADS -system were added to improve the
handling qualities.
S76R Carbon Ceramic Brake System with 6-piston calipers and 402 mm front discs.
To improve the exhaust flow equal length
stainless steel headers, a full-length stainless steel exhaust system with
sport catalytic converters and quad mufflers were added. The system gives the
naturally aspirated S76R a powerful yet refined sound, which at wide open
throttle sounds race-car aggressive and at low speeds hums a muted tune, barely
loud enough to be noticed inside the cabin.
Forged 19 in. aluminum wheels custom made for S76R
Exterior:
On
the exterior, the S-Class body received AMG ground effects all around, along
with RENNtech designed trunk lip spoiler with 3rd brake light, front
splitter, and louvered side moldings. Keeping with a low-key style, the lowered
stance, large wheels, and dual tip exhaust, offer clues that the black S76R is
more than a stately sedan.
Interior: The original
interior was completely overhauled with new seats, diamond stich upholstery,
carbon fiber inlays, Alcantara headliner, a leather dash and center console,
re-covered leather and carbon steering wheel, shifter, and new carpeting. The
original rear bench seat was converted to the four-passenger option featuring
individual adjustable rear seats, all interior lights were replaced, and the
sound system was replaced by a new smartphone compatible head-unit and re-coned
speakers.
Custom made interior for S76R.
Outside of the upgraded parts, the 1992
S-Class was restored in every detail. Bushings and ball joints, door lock and
soft close actuators, brake lines, new HVAC ventilation pods, hydraulic
suspension accumulators, oil cooler, evaporator, heater core, and other worn
parts were replaced to make the S76R as good as brand new.
S76R Badging and RENNtech trunk lip spoiler.
With RENNtech’s engine and performance
upgrades, the S76R holds its own among contemporary luxury sedans with 0-60 mph
acceleration in the low 5 seconds and enough torque to move the 4800 lb.
S-Class easily to the 155 mph mark. The added power gives the S76R a highly
responsive feel, resulting in a car that drives much lighter and nimbler than
the tank-like 600 SEL. 30 years later the interior ergonomics still feel first
class, with large dual-paned windows, sizeable seats, and a vault like ambiance
and enough space to seat four individuals in true comfort.
30 years after the first RENNtech M120 powered Mercedes-Benz hit the market, the S76R RENNtech adds a chapter to Merceds-Benz W140 S-Class and M120 -engine history. And for those fortunate enough to commission a dream build of this scale, RENNtech Classics holds the blueprints to make the dream a reality.
1992 600 SEL RENNtech S76R built in 2022.
The powerful yet understated profile of the S76R.
S76R interior with diamond stitched upholstery and carbon fiber trim.
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