Wideboy: Merc’s AMG GT3 racer has landed

Crikey. We knew it'd be wide and scary, but we didn't imagine it'd be as wide and scary as this.

This is your first look at Merc's new AMG GT3 racer, the track-only edition of the V8 monster Stig thrashed round the TG track last week, and it looks fearsome.

The AMG GT3 will be officially unveiled at the Geneva show in early March, at which point there'll be a whole lot more in the way of imagery and information. For now, though, we have only this single image and quite literally no information, save Merc's assertion that the AMG GT3 ‘complies with FIA GT3 regulations'.

Which is good news, considering it's set to run in the FIA's GT3 series, replacing the intensely successful, intensely winged SLS GT3.

It's safe to assume the racer will retain the road car's 4.0-litre turbo V8 - likely generating a similar 500bhp or thereabouts - but will also benefit from a serious crash diet. We'd go as far as to speculate that it'll probably lose the road-going GT's excellent infotainment system, too.

Now then. We know what you're thinking: very nice, but where's the road-legal version? Be patient, good soul. AMG has already all but confirmed that a harder, faster, road-going GT will follow, much as the SLS Black Series followed the SLS.

Whether that car would be badged as a Black Series remains unclear, but expect it to get a chunk more power, along with a whole bunch of aero excellence inspired by this racer.

Which is, clearly, a good thing, because we have a feeling this AMG GT3 might be one of the finest-looking racers in years. Dare to disagree?