The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (internal designation W196S) was a works racing sports car built by Mercedes-Benz in 1955 for factory competition use only, sharing its straight-eight engine architecture with the contemporary W196 Grand Prix car. The 300 SLR dominated the 1955 World Sportscar Championship, with Stirling Moss and navigator Denis Jenkinson winning the Mille Miglia in a record-breaking run that remains one of the most celebrated drives in motorsport history. The car is also remembered for its involvement in the 1955 Le Mans disaster, after which Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing entirely. A notable variant was the open single-seat configuration used at the Nürburgring, and a coupe version with distinctive air-brake butterfly doors was developed but saw limited competition use.
