Mercedes-Benz M291 engine
The Mercedes-Benz M291 engine is a 3.5-liter flat-12 racing engine, designed, developed and produced by Mercedes-Benz, for their Group C racing program. It was introduced in 1991, along with their new Mercedes-Benz C291 prototype race car chassis.
Background
The 1991 season marked the introduction of the FIA’s new, and controversial, 3.5-liter formula which replaced the highly successful Group C category that had been used in the World Sportscar Championship since 1982, though due to a small number of entries for the 3.5-liter formula heavily penalized Group C cars were allowed to participate in the season's C2 category.Engine
The primary feature of the new regulations was the use of a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine. This made it impossible for Mercedes-Benz to use the engines from its previous Group C cars. Also, to produce similar power to the Group C cars a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine had to be very high-revving and be constructed from different materials in order to rev highly.As Jaguar was part of Ford since 1990, the XJR-14 could use the proven Ford-Cosworth HB engine from the Benetton B190B Formula One car. Mercedes-Benz had to design an all-new purpose-built racing engine and its M-291 3.5 L Flat-12 unit was the result. The engine only produced about, compared to over produced by M119 5.0-liter V8 twin-turbo found in the C291's predecessor, the Sauber-Mercedes C11.
Applications
- Mercedes-Benz C291
- Mercedes-Benz C292