The
C291 was developed by Mercedes and Sauber to compete in the 1991 World
Sportscar championship. New regulations meant the development of a flat
twelve, 3.5 litre naturally aspirated engine producing around 650bhp.
Concerns
over engine design & construction during testing led Mercedes to start
the 1991 season with a single C291, flanked by a weight penalised C11.
After
two DNF's and a 2nd in the first three races, it was decided that the C291
wasn't ready for the Le Mans 24hr and instead entered three C11's.
Three more DNF's in the following rounds effectively spelt the end of Mercedes' World Sportscar involvement, though a P1 finish in the last race at Autopolis in Japan meant the Silver arrows left the championship on a high note.
This
car, chassis No.4 appeared at only three events in the 1991 championship,
those being Nurburgring (practice only), Mexico (DNF) and Autopolis, each
time driven by Karl Wendlinger and a young Michael Schumacher. The car
took the win in Mercedes' final Sportscar race in Japan, the last of the
season.
