Mercedes-Benz M196 engine

The Mercedes-Benz M196 was a naturally aspirated straight-eight racing engine built by Daimler-Benz and used in both Formula One and sports car racing in 1954 and 1955. It came in two forms. The M 196 R, displacing 2.5 litres, powered the W196 Grand Prix car under the 1954 Formula One rules, and the M 196 S, displacing 3.0 litres, powered the 300 SLR sports racer. It was notable as the only engine in the 1954 Formula One field with direct fuel injection, and it used desmodromic valves. In the 2.5 litre form it delivered 256 PS at its 1954 debut and later up to 290 PS, while the 3.0 litre version was run on standard 98 RON petrol and made 276 PS. Daimler-Benz withdrew from motorsport after the 1955 Le Mans disaster, which made the M196 its last Formula One engine until Mercedes returned as an engine supplier to Sauber in 1994.