From AMG GT 63 PRO To Camry XSE: Current Safety And Pace Cars Controlling Major Motorsports Races

Back in July, Mercedes-AMG introduced the all-new GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ at the Formula 1 AWS Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest as the official FIA F1 Safety Car, marking three decades of its collaboration with Formula 1.

Powered by a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine producing 612 hp and 850 Nm of torque, the high-performance Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ will serve as the 14th official FIA F1 Safety Car to bear the three-pointed star since the C 36 AMG first performed the role.

Like its predecessors, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, driven by Bernd Mayländer, will be deployed to slow down competing F1 cars during caution periods, such as when there is bad weather or an obstruction on the track.

• See Also: Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung: Sold-Out 646-HP Collector’s Item Limited To Just 30 Units

BMW M5 Touring

Porsche 911 Turbo S

Mercedes-Benz’s high-performance division isn’t the only automaker involved in motorsport, as BMW M also has a similarly long-running relationship with MotoGP, dating back to 1999. The BMW M2 and BMW M5 currently ensure two-wheel racers are safely guided whenever incident management is required.

Meanwhile, Porsche has taken the electric route in Formula E, where the Taycan Turbo GT serves as the championship’s Safety Car. In the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Porsche also provides official course cars, with the 911 Turbo S used to help manage track operations and dictate the pace when required.

BMW M8

Chevrolet Blazer EV SS

Across the Atlantic in American motorsports, the terminology shifts from “Safety Cars” to “Pace Cars” in NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and IndyCar (a portmanteau of Indianapolis and car), where a distinct flavour of American muscle dominates the grid.

NASCAR uses pace cars to control the field during caution periods and other situations requiring reduced speeds, with an alternating trio of the all-electric Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, Ford Mustang GT, and track-tuned Toyota Camry XSE currently rotating pacing duties from week to week, depending on the race track, location, and marketing priorities.

Toyota Camry XSE 

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X 

In IndyCar, Chevrolet’s Corvette has become synonymous with pace-car duties at the Indianapolis 500. The 2026 race was led by the 1,250-hp Corvette ZR1X, capable of accelerating to 60 mph in 1.89 seconds and reaching an electronically limited top speed of 233 mph (375 km/h) on straightaways.

These partnerships with motorsports represent much more than a marketing exercise, as they allow automakers to showcase their track and road-going technology by demonstrating speed, braking, and handling in some of the world’s most demanding racing environments.

• See Also: 30 Years Leading the Pack: Every Mercedes-AMG F1 Safety Car Since 1996 (Photos)