Toto Wolff, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team Principal, recently experienced one of the rarest performance cars ever built when he drove a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR at the Dubai Autodrom. The drive took place shortly before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem riding in the passenger seat. Both men removed their shoes before entering the car, underscoring both the tight confines and the value placed on the vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR involved in the outing is reportedly owned by Ben Sulayem. Only 28 examples of the CLK GTR were produced as road-legal homologation specials derived from the FIA GT1 race car. Of those, 20 were coupes, six were roadsters, and two were Super Sport models. Wolff drove a coupe, the most common configuration, though still exceedingly rare.
Power comes from a rear-mid-mounted naturally aspirated 6.9-liter V12 producing 604 horsepower and 572 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed sequential manual transmission driving the rear wheels. Performance figures include a 0–60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph. Extensive use of lightweight materials keeps curb weight at just 2,205 pounds, while carbon composite brakes handle stopping duties.
Wolff’s height proved to be a challenge. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, he struggled to fit through the CLK GTR’s upward-opening dihedral doors. His stature is the same factor that limited his racing career, as single-seater race cars are typically designed for much smaller drivers.
Despite that limitation, Wolff competed in motorsport during the 1990s and early 2000s. His career included success in Austrian Formula Ford, a class win at the 1994 Nürburgring 24 Hours, competition in FIA GT and Italian GT series, and class victories along with an overall win at the 2006 Dubai 24 Hours.
Wolff later pivoted away from racing, choosing a career in investment and management. He founded multiple venture capital firms after briefly working in banking and leaving university before completing his degree. That path led to significant wealth, with estimates placing his net worth at roughly $2.5 billion as of late 2025.
Although Wolff does not own a CLK GTR, he does possess other significant Mercedes collectibles, including a 300 SL Gullwing. During the Dubai track session, which included other hypercars such as Koenigseggs, a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, and the Mercedes-AMG One, Wolff drove the CLK GTR without incident, a notable outcome given a serious Nürburgring crash he survived in 2009.
The run offered a rare sight: a modern Formula One executive reconnecting with one of the most extreme homologation cars ever produced, carefully easing into its cockpit in socks before unleashing its V12 on track.
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