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Formula One followers often swear by one name – Michael Schumacher. The seven-time Formula One (F1) World Champion is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. And like all celebrities has a fervent fan following worldwide and the extent of which was recently demonstrated when the racer was involved in a skiing accident.
If you have ever wished to own a piece of racing history, then this could be your lucky month. It could be the month you get your hands on Michael Schumacher’s first podium finish car! But, you need extremely deep pockets, intense love for racing and a seat at the Bonhams Auction on November 30. The Bonhams Bond Street sale, in London, will include the Benetton-Ford B191B Formula One Racing Single-Seater, which is expected to sell for £240,000-£300,000. (Rs 2 crore and above)
On March 22, 1992, a young Schumacher clinched his first podium finish at the Mexican Grand Prix. In what was set to be the last Grand Prix of Mexico (the race will return to the calendar in 2015 after a 23-year hiatus), a 23-year-old Schumacher piloted his Benetton-Ford to an impressive third place, setting the tone of things to come. Of course, many podiums, wins and championships followed – but chassis B191-06 not only set the German’s career on course, this was also the car that took three-time Formula One World Champion driver, Brazil’s Nelson Piquet, through his last Grand Prix on the beautiful Adelaide street and parkland circuit in the 1991 season.
At the opening round of the season in South Africa, Schumacher finished in fourth place behind Williams and McLaren’s Ayrton Senna. Back at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, he qualified in third place behind Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese of Williams, but over 1.3 seconds ahead of Brundle in fourth.
As was customary in 1992, the Williams drivers romped to a 1-2 finish, but Schumacher held his own to finish just nine seconds behind Patrese and cross the line in third place, and was just one of three drivers to finish on the same lap as winner Nigel Mansell.
James Knight, Bonhams’ international head of motoring said, “This car really has enjoyed a fantastic career and now, more than two decades after its debut, it can make an exciting addition to any enthusiast's motoring collection.”
The race-ready car is eligible to be entered at historic Grand Prix events around the globe and comes with a range of equipment, including spare parts and an extra set of tyres.
