The car that preceded the AMG GT in the Mercedes lineup, the SLS, was chosen to be the Formula 1 pace car. Its smaller, lighter replacement will now be officially used for safety duty in the German Touring Masters championship, the DTM.

It’s set to debut at the second DTM race of this season, set to take place this weekend in Lausitz.

Mercedes did have its own safety car in the DTM championship, but it wasn’t the SLS, as they chose to go with a C63 Black Series instead.

The powertrain of the AMG GT S safety car is identical to that of the road going version: 510 PS, 0-100 km/h or 0-62 mph in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h or 194 mph.

Unique features include an “aerodynamically optimized carbon-fiber air scoop on the roof,” although that came standard on Edition 1 models. The lighting system you won’t find on any series car, though.

It even has a “special number plate at the rear with Safety Car lettering and orange/green LEDs is synchronised with the light bar and provides for added safety in the dark or in rain. The headlamps and tail lights perform an additional important signalling function: whenever the Safety Car is on the track, a stroboscopic effect makes the car even more conspicuous.”

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