Mercedes-Benz Actros to haul Red Bull race car

The new Actros, the truck that won the 2020 Trucksales Innovation Award, will carry the cars of seven-time Supercars champion, Jamie Whincup, and 2016 Supercars championship winner and current series leader, Shane van Gisbergen, as well as a vast amount of spares and team gear.

Whincup was on hand to collect the keys to the top-of-the-line Actros prime mover at Daimler Truck and Bus headquarters in Mulgrave, Victoria, recently and took the truck for a quick drive.

The range-topping 16-litre Actros produces 625hp of power, not far off the ‘635hp-plus’ output of Red Bull Ampol Racing Holdens it hauls, but the big Mercedes-Benz also makes a hefty 3000Nm of torque.

The Actros features Predictive Powertrain Control, which uses topographic map data and GPS information to help the truck anticipate terrain and select the optimum shift pattern and engine response for maximum fuel economy.

It also features two 12-inch customisable tablet screens that present information in super crisp detail, giving the driver more control and information in a clear and stylish manner.

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Red Bull Ampol Racing also ticked the box for the optional MirrorCam system, which captures vision from cameras on aerodynamic wings and displays it on screens mounted on the A-pillars in the cabin.

Whincup, who has a Multi Combination Heavy Vehicle licence, enjoyed his drive in the Actros prime mover.

“The cab is a real stand out. It’s really impressive how much of the technology you see in Mercedes-Benz cars is also in these trucks,” he commented.

“These screens and the touch controls on the steering wheel are excellent, because it’s really easy to keep on top of everything.”

Whincup, who is competing in his last full season of Supercars, welcomed Daimler Trucks on board as a sponsor and supplier of the team’s trucks.

“We always want to work with the leaders in each field and it’s clear that Daimler Trucks is a leader with advanced trucks like this Actros,” he said.

Whincup is hoping to hit the road for a longer run in the Actros on the way to one of the events during this season, but regular driving duties fall to experienced transporter driver Dave Lewin.

Like all Actros models, the Red Bull Ampol Actros comes standard with the Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist system, a radar/camera system that can automatically perform full emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians.