 For the 1998 season AMG refined the CLK GTR 's design with the launch of the new CLK LM . A major change for the new design was the replacement of the CLK GTR 's V12 engine with a smaller V8 , thought by Mercedes to be more suitable to take on longer endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans , a race not part of the FIA GT calendar . Despite earning pole position for Le Mans , the new cars were unreliable and both lasted less than three hours before retiring from mechanical failures . The race was won by Mercedes ' FIA GT rivals Porsche . Mercedes did go on to win its second straight FIA GT Championships later that year after winning all ten races . 
