With Mercedes currently setting the benchmark at the pinnacle of global motorsport in Formula 1 and returning to the British Touring Car Championship grid with Plato Racing, the three-pointed star is once again a force across multiple arenas in worldwide and national motorsport.

Now, that presence is extending into the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, as Andy Wilson prepares to campaign a striking and rare Mercedes C63 in the fiercely competitive Classic Thunder class.

We caught a rare glimpse of the 600bhp brute at a test event outing at Silverstone last year, Wilson’s new machine represents something genuinely different within the paddock — and comes from an unconventional background.

“I wanted another car,” Wilson explains. “But I wanted something I could race in Classic Thunder. I’ve raced in Classic Thunder since 2003 with a Mini… I’ve done it longer than anybody. I like the cars, I like the people.”

Having spent over two decades in motorsport, Wilson’s journey began in 2002, inspired by his father’s racing exploits in the 1970s.

“My dad raced in the ’70s, and it just captivated me. I always wanted to race cars. In 2002, I had enough money, so I bought a Mini… I raced Minis for four or five years, Northern Sports and Saloons is where I started.”

Since then, his garage has seen a wide variety of machinery, most notably his long-serving Holden Monaro – a car he describes as fitting “like a glove.” However, with development work ongoing on that car, the opportunity arose to bring something new – and very special – to the grid.

That opportunity came in the form of an ultra-rare Mercedes C63, originally built for Euro V8 competition.

“They made six of these… six saloons and one coupe. This is the only one in the country,” Wilson says. “I’ve always known about these, and they don’t come up very often.”

The car’s pedigree is equally impressive, with links to high-level international competition and even former Formula 1 drivers. “A lot of ex-F1 drivers drove these… Johnny Herbert drove this. It’s a proper race car – built really well. AMG had a hand in building them, and the prep work on the shell is world-class.”

Despite its credentials, Wilson’s first outing in the car – arriving only at the final event of last season after delays bringing it over from the Netherlands – was very much a learning experience.

“It’s completely different to the Monaro in the way it drives… I’m used to the Monaro. This was a bit of an eye-opener,” he admits. “I only did a couple of laps, but I’m quite happy with that.”

Mechanical gremlins limited running, but early signs were encouraging.

“I lost the brakes after two or three laps… we lost one of the ducts off the front, and the bias was set wrong. But I’m pretty sure it can be on the podium and hope to be near there this weekend.”

Under the bonnet lies serious performance potential. The V8-powered machine is expected to produce around 600 horsepower, housed in a lightweight, purpose-built chassis.

“It’s about 600 horsepower, weighs about 1,250 kilos, sequential gearbox, three-way adjustable suspension… it’s built as a racing car.”
Yet, for Wilson, the appeal goes beyond outright performance. The Mercedes represents individuality – something that stands out in a field often dominated by more familiar machinery.

“That’s what really appealed to me… the fact that it’s so different. You get a load of M3s, but you never see this. I like going against the grain, doing something a bit different.”

The challenge now lies in adapting to the car’s characteristics, which contrast sharply with his Monaro.

“The Monaro’s set up to understeer… this is all back end. The rear’s moving constantly, it wants to oversteer a lot — which is not my kind of driving. So I’ve had to adapt.”

“We’ve gone through it over the winter… getting used to its style, you will see it at certain events including Donington this weekend.”

As Mercedes continues its resurgence across top-tier motorsport, Wilson’s unique addition ensures the brand will also be one to watch in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club — where heritage, horsepower, and individuality combine in spectacular fashion.

And if early indications are anything to go by, this rare C63 won’t just be making up the numbers – it could soon be fighting right at the front.