1984: Start of touring-car racing with the Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16
It was not until 1984 that Daimler-Benz set out to become actively involved in international motorsport again. Several private teams – among them AMG – entered the 190 E 2.3-16 in the Group A Championship in 1986. Volker Weidler clinched the runner-up title in the very first season; Roland Asch repeated this success in 1988. One year later, the Mercedes-Benz 190 E was developed into the 2.5-16 version with 330 hp. The next stage of evolution was triggered in 1990: the four-valve, four-cylinder engine now boasted a 373 hp output. Mercedes-Benz touring cars often came out on top in exciting races against tough competition from the likes of Audi, BMW and Opel. Daimler-Benz's endeavours bore fruit in 1991, when the company clinched the manufacturers' title and Klaus Ludwig the runner-up title.