Mercedes Silver Arrow W25 1934 1936

High unemployment and an economic crisis, the Mercedes-Benz works racing department closed: 1932 did not seem to offer a very favourable backdrop for motorsport activities in Germany. But there was at least some hope for the future, for that autumn the motor sport association AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus) in Paris announced a new formula for Grand Prix racing, formulated in 1932 and due to come into effect in 1934: the cars, without fuel, oil, coolant, and without tyres should weigh no more than 750 kilograms, but otherwise the engineers were not subject to any further restrictions. In the light of today’s racing formulae, which demand a minimum weight, a maximum weight limitation might appear strange, but with the 750 kilogram formula the AIACR was aiming to restrict the speed of racing cars compared with the models of the previous generation. The assumption was that a light vehicle would necessarily be fitted with a smaller engine with a low output. But the powers that be had underestimated technological progress: during the lifetime of the 750-kilogram formula from 1934 until 1937 alone, the engine output of the Mercedes-Benz racing cars was more than doubled.

The decision that the company would develop its own racing car was finally reached at Mercedes-Benz in 1933 – racing manager Alfred Neubauer’s persistence in appealing for a return to racing having finally met with success. However, with the seizing of power by the National Socialists, the conditions for motorsport in Germany had also changed: the NS regime was very keen to promote the automotive economy, appropriated responsibility for existing autobahn construction projects, reduced taxes on new vehicles and encouraged the leading manufacturers to get involved with motor sport. And so it was that a new rival to Mercedes-Benz appeared on the scene: Auto Union, with its headquarters in Chemnitz, was created in August 1932 as the result of a merger between the state of Saxony’s four vehicle manufacturers Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. Rivalry between racing cars bearing the three-pointed star and those bearing the four rings of Auto Union would go on to define European motor racing in the years up until 1939.

Once the decision to go ahead with the racing car with the designated number W 25 had been made, Alfred Neubauer immediately began to put together a racing team. One of the drivers that he approached was Rudolf Caracciola, although after sustaining serious leg injuries in an accident in Monaco in April 1933 and having to spend several months in hospital, it was still not clear whether the latter would be fully fit again in time. The team also included the drivers Manfred von Brauchitsch, Luigi Fagioli, Hanns Geier, and Ernst Henne.

New racing car an absolute winner

The engineers around Hans Nibel, Chief Engineer at Board level, worked under considerable time pressure to develop a new racing car. The layout, with a front engine, was actually rather conservative compared with Auto Union’s mid-engined car or with earlier developments by the company’s own brands, such as the Benz “Teardrop” car. Nevertheless, the combination of a slim body, a mechanically supercharged 3.4-litre in-line eight-cylinder engine, individual wheel suspension and a transmission mounted directly on the rear axle, all added up to make the car an absolute winner. Responsible for the chassis at Daimler-Benz was Max Wagner, with the duo of Albert Heess and Otto Schilling working on the engine. In the testing department headed up by Fritz Nallinger, Georg Scheerer, one of those who had been there since the very early days of the supercharged “Kompressor” models built by the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), was responsible for putting the engines very thoroughly through their paces. Otto Weber would assemble them, while Jakob Kraus took over the fitting of the chassis. By the winter of 1933 Neubauer was already waxing lyrical about the elegant monoposto that would once again take his team to victory.

In 1934, the first test drives with the new racing car took place from February onwards in Monza as well as on the motorway between Milan and Varese. With 320 hp (235 kW) – subsequently 354 hp/260 kW with a new blend of fuel – the car reached top speeds of more than 250 km/h

With the advent of the W 25, Mercedes-Benz also introduced a new colour for the bodywork: silver. The car’s first appearance should have been at the Avus race in Berlin in May 1934, but participation was cancelled at the last minute due to technical problems. And so it was that the new car did not make its debut until a week later, on 3 June at the International Eifel race on the Nürburgring. The W 25 went to the starting line in silver livery – so the story goes – after the racing cars were stripped of their white paint at the Nürburgring to reduce weight. Although this race was not held according to the new 750-kilogram formula, the team were clearly keen to present a vehicle that already met the new rules. The term “Silver Arrow” was not coined until later, but would become increasingly popular over the years.

First start and first victory – the beginning of a legend

The Eifel race of 1934 marked the first start and at the same time the first victory for the new Mercedes-Benz formula racing car. Manfred von Brauchitsch drove the W 25 to the chequered line at an average speed of 122.5 km/h – setting a new record for the circuit in the process.

Further victories in the first year of the W 25 included Rudolf Caracciola winning the Klausen race in Switzerland, Luigi Fagioli’s triumph in the Coppa Acerbo at Pescara and victory in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. With a total of around 1,300 bends and chicanes to be negotiated, Monza was the most difficult fixture of the 1934 racing season. Rudolf Caracciola was still not fit enough after his accident to get through the whole race and was in considerable pain. Halfway through the race his place at the wheel of the car with the starting number 2 was therefore taken by Luigi Fagioli. The Italian, whose own car had been retired early with technical problems, was able to defend the advantage built up by Caracciola right to the finishing line. At the Spanish Grand Prix the Mercedes-Benz racing team won once again and took their first double victory, with Luigi Fagioli winning ahead of Rudolf Caracciola. Fagioli then finished second in the Masaryk Grand Prix in Brno.

1935: season dominated almost completely by Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz was thus once again back at the forefront of international motor racing. After the 1934 season this could no longer be doubted. The Stuttgart team responded to the successes of their strong rivals from Auto Union in the 1935 season by making various further improvements to the W 25.

The most powerful engine – M 25 C – now produced an output of 494 hp (363 kW) at 5800 rpm from a displacement of 4310 cubic centimetres. This was the car with which Mercedes-Benz would almost completely dominate the 1935 racing season. Rudolf Caracciola was back on top form and won the Tripoli Grand Prix, the Eifel race, the French Grand Prix, the Belgian Grand Prix, the Swiss Grand Prix, and the Spanish Grand Prix. The lead driver for the Silver Arrows was thus given the title of European Champion, awarded that year for the first time. To add to these successes, in 1935 Luigi Fagioli also won the Monaco Grand Prix, the Avus race, and the Barcelona Grand Prix (ahead of Caracciola).

The 449 hp (330 kW) W 25 of 1936, which had a shorter wheelbase compared with its predecessors, could however not match this string of successes. In that year Mercedes-Benz won only the Monaco and Tunis Grands Prix, both with Caracciola at the wheel

Mercedes-Benz W 25

Years of construction: 1934 to 1936
Cylinders:         8, in-line
Displacement: up to 4,740 cc
Output:            up to 494 hp (363 kW)
Top speed:       approx. 300 km/h

Legend of Daimler Benz Archive Historic Grand Prix Wallpapers

1-Start of the International Eifel race on the Nürburgring on June 3, 1934. The winner of this race was Manfred von Brauchitsch at the wheel of a W 25 Mercedes-Benz formula racing car.

2-International Eifel race on the Nürburgring, June 3, 1934. Luigi Fagioli (start number 22) in a Mercedes-Benz 750-kg formula racing car W 25.

3-International Klausen Pass Race on August 5, 1934. Rudolf Caracciola wins on his Mercedes-Benz W 25 750-kg formula racing car.

4-Coppa Acerbo near Pescara, August 15, 1934. The winner Luigi Fagioli (start number 50) at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 750-kg formula racing car W 25.

5-Swiss Grand Prix, Bremgarten, August 26, 1934. Rudolf Caracciola (start number 10) at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz formula racing car W 25.

6-Italian Grand Prix in Monza, September 9, 1934. The winner Rudolf Caracciola at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz formula racing car W 25 with start number 2.

7-Spanish Grand Prix in Lasarte - San Sebastian, September 23, 1934. The winner Luigi Fagioli (start number 18) in a Mercedes-Benz 750-kg formula racing car W 25

8-Monaco Grand Prix, April 22, 1935. The winner Luigi Fagioli at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz formula racing car W 25 B.

8-Start of the Monaco Grand Prix, April 22, 1935. Threei Mercedes-Benz formula racing cars W 25 in the startin line. start number 4 - Luigi Fagioli, the winner. start number 6 - Manfred von Brauchitsch. start number 2 - Rudolf Caracciola.

9-Tripolis Grand Prix, Mellaha, May 12, 1935. Luigi Fagioli, who finished in third place, with start number 10 and Rudolf Caracciola (start number 26), who was to win the race, both in Mercedes-Benz W 25.

10-International Eifel race on the Nürburgring on June 16, 1935. The winner Rudolf Caracciola at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz racing car W 25.

11-French Grand Prix in Montlhéry, June 23, 1935. The winner Rudolf Caracciola in a Mercedes-Benz formula racing car W 25. Manfrd von Brauchitsch finished in second place.

12-. Gran Premio "Penya Rhin" and the third Gran Prix of Barcelona (Circuito de Montjuich), June 30, 1935. The winner Luigi Fagioli wit the start number 10 at the whell of a 750-kg formula racing car W 25.

13-Double victory at the Grand Prix of Barcelona, Montjuich-Park, June 30, 1935. Rudolf Caracciola (start number 2) in a Mercedes-Benz formula racing car W 25. Caracciola finished in second place behind the winner Luigi Fagioli.

14-Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Franchorchamps. July 7, 1935. The winner Rudolf Caracciola (start number 2) in a Mercedes-Benz 750-kg formula racing car W 25.

15-Swiss Grand Prix, August 25, 1935. Three Mercedes-Benz formula racing cars (W 25) at the pit stop: Hermann Lang with the start number 42, Rudolf Caracciola (who was to win the race) with the start number 10 and Manfrd von Brauchitsch with the start number 8.

15-Start of the Swiss Grand Prix, Bremgarten, August 25, 1935. Start number 30 - René Dreyfus in an Alfa Romeo. Start number 8 - Manfred von Brauchitsch in a Mercedes-Benz formula racing car W 25. Start number 28 - Louis Chiron in an Alfa Romeo.

16-Rain champion: Rudolf Caracciola won the 1936 Monaco Grand Prix at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz W 25.