Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II takes to the starting line of the ADAC 24h Classic Race to compete in the Youngtimer Trophy

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•Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II boasts design featuring historic themes from 120 years of Mercedes-Benz motor sport history

•Roland Asch and Sebastian Asch take to the wheel on the North Loop of the Nürburgring in the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race

•Works racing cars built for historic motor sport evoke memories of great victories in different eras

The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II racing touring car built by Mercedes-Benz Classic for historic motor sport events will be taking to the starting line on 20 June 2014 to compete in the Youngtimer Trophy at the Nürburgring. The three-hour race around the 25.378-kilometre circuit (Nürburgring North Loop plus Grand Prix circuit) forms part of the ADAC 24h Classic, which is being staged as part of the 42nd ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race (19 to 22 June 2014). Built by Mercedes-Benz Classic according to the Group A standards for the DTM vehicle dating from the 1990s, the works racing car will be driven by racing drivers Roland and Sebastian Asch. For this season, the body of the works racing car is decorated with themes depicting magic moments from 120 years of Mercedes-Benz motor sport history.

The participation of the Mercedes-Benz Classic works racing car in its second outing in the 2014 season as part of the Youngtimer Trophy underscores the brand's strong commitment to historic motor sport: it started in the 2011 season when the Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W111) works racing car, affectionately referred to as the 'Racing Tailfin' by fans, celebrated its premiere in the Dunlop FHR Long-Distance Cup. This was followed in 2013 by the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (W 201), with which Mercedes-Benz Classic created a highlight in the starting line-up for the Youngtimer Trophy. Participants in the Youngtimer Trophy include vehicles dating from 1966 to 1991 which comply with Appendix J to the International Sporting Code of the FIA (Féderation Internationale de l'Automobile), as well as with the homologation standards of their respective eras. This ensures maximum authenticity and an intensive historic motor racing experience. The 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II from Mercedes-Benz Classic is taking part in Division 10 of the Youngtimer Trophy for vehicles based on the Group A technical standard which held a valid FIA homologation during the period from 1989 to 1991.

Exciting journey through time back to the DTM of the 1990s

'Mercedes-Benz Classic built the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II as an historic motorsport works racing car for the Youngtimer Trophy to promote this unique form of preservation of our historic motor sport heritage on the racetrack,' explains Michael Bock, Director Mercedes-Benz Classic and Customer Center. 'This commitment contributes to bringing back to life some of the exciting eras of motor sport history in a particularly authentic way – and it creates the opportunity for many other magic moments in what is a very special race series.'

The Nürburgring, on whose North Loop and Grand Prix circuit the ADAC 24h Classic takes place as part of the Zurich 24-Hour Race from 19 to 22 June 2014, is the perfect stage for the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II from the model series 201, affectionately known as the 'Evo II' by fans. This is because it was at the Nürburgring that Mercedes-Benz started its commitment to motor racing with the 190 model in 1984: some 20 examples of the 190 E 2.3-16 model took part in the official opening race in May 1984, which was won by Ayrton Senna. The history of the Youngtimer Trophy is also closely associated with the racing circuit located in the Eifel region. The first race of the series took place in 1993, when 35 vehicles raced on the North Loop of the Nürburgring.

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For Mercedes-Benz, the circuit, which is one of the most popular race tracks in the world, already has very close associations with the motor sport history of the brand: even in the inaugural race on 19 June 1927, Rudolf Caracciola emerged victorious ahead of team mate Adolf Rosenberger in a Mercedes-Benz model S. The legendary Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were also born in the Eifel region: at the beginning of June 1934 the W 25 came to the starting line in silver livery after – legend has it – the racing cars were first stripped of their white paint at the Nürburgring for weight reasons. Manfred von Brauchitsch promptly won the prestigious International Eifel Race in a new record time.

This and numerous other magic moments – including for example the victory by Klaus Ludwig in a 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II in the DTM race forming part of the 24-Hour Race in 1992 – are being remembered this year with the participation of Roland and Sebastian Asch in the Youngtimer Trophy.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic vehicle taking part in the ADAC 24h Classic Race at the Nürburgring

Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (W 201)

Work on this second development stage of a DTM racing car based on the compact-class W 201 started in August 1989. The vehicles were developed by the in-house Mercedes-Benz sport technology (st) department. The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II celebrated its racing debut on 16 June 1990 on the North Loop of the Nürburgring.

Technical data

Production period: 1990

Cylinders: 4/in-line

Displacement: 2463 cc

Output: 173 kW (235 hp) at 7,200 rpm

Top speed: around 250 km/h

The Mercedes-Benz Classic drivers taking part in the ADAC 24h Classic Race at the Nürburgring

Roland Asch

Born on 12 October 1950 in Altingen

Trained as a master automotive mechanic, Roland Asch began his motor racing career as a hobby but achieved victories like a professional: after winning the German Hill-Racing Championship in 1981 and the German Motor Racing Trophy in 1983, he made his debut in the German Touring Car Championships (DTM) in 1985. He became Runner-Up in 1988 in his own Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16. In the late 1980s he won the overall rankings in the Porsche 944 Turbo Cup three times, and in 1991 took the championship title in the Porsche Carrera Cup. In the early 1990s he achieved a total of five wins and various good placings in the DTM for Mercedes-Benz. In 1993 he became DTM Runner-Up for the second time, and in 1995 moved to Ford in the Super Touring Car Cup. Roland Asch remains very closely associated with Mercedes-Benz as a brand ambassador.

Sebastian Asch

Born on 4 June 1986 in Tübingen

Sebastian Asch, son of racing driver Roland Asch, celebrated his first race track victories in 2003 in the ADAC Corsa Slalom Cup (4th place). This was followed by a variety of long-distance races, including 2nd place in 2006 in the SP4T Class in the 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring. In 2007 he achieved a Class victory and 2nd place in the overall rankings in the Porsche Classic Car Trophy, as well as a Class victory (SP4T) in the 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring. In the same year Asch became Runner-Up and Junior Champion in the Seat Leon Supercopa Cup. The Bachelor of Engineering achieved further outstanding results in long-distance races, for example in the 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring, and in Dubai, Spa-Francorchamps and Daytona. His greatest triumph to date has been the championship title in the ADAC GT Masters 2012 at the wheel of a Mercedes SLS AMG GT3.