1952 was the comeback year for Mercedes-Benz's motorsport division - and it was a return with a bang. The sportscar codenamed W194 was launched as the 300SLR and made its first racing appearance at the Mille Miglia on May 4. Fittingly, one of the Stuttgart cars was entrusted to Rudi Caracciola, who went on to finish fourth, Two weeks after the Swiss sportscar GP took place at Berne, where Mercedes scored an emphatic one-two-three with Kling leading Lang and Rieß, there was sorrow as well as Caracciola rammed a Bremgarten tree, putting an end to his distinguished racing career. Also, this was the only occasion on which Mercedes cars didn't race as the Silver Arrows. Expect for Rieß' 300SL, which remained silver, Caracciola's car was red, Kling's dark green and Lang's pale blue.