Sauber-Mercedes

The partnership between Sauber and Mercedes-Benz in motorsport is one of the most successful stories in endurance racing. It began in the mid-1980s when Peter Sauber’s Swiss team made a shift from privateer racing efforts to a factory-backed program, with Mercedes secretly providing engines under the guise of the Swiss tuner Heini Mader. The first car, the Sauber C8, which debuted in 1985, marked the beginning of the collaboration. Mercedes was, at the time, hesitant about re-entering motorsport, but it used Sauber’s team as a vehicle to return to top-tier sports car racing while staying under the radar. 

The true turning point came in 1988 when Mercedes committed fully to a factory-backed effort. The team, now branded as “Team Sauber Mercedes,” entered the FIA World Sports Prototype Championship. Although the 1988 Le Mans campaign ended in disaster due to tire issues, the team quickly rebounded. The following year, with the upgraded Sauber C9 and a more developed Mercedes engine, the team saw tremendous success. In 1989, Sauber Mercedes dominated the championship, winning both the World Sports Prototype Championship and securing an iconic victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.