The FIA and RM Sotheby’s held a successful #RaceAgainstCovid charity auction with McLaren F1 showcar MP4-24 going for the highest among multiple racing items.
As the world gets back up to speed along with racing, COVID-19 pandemic is still a major problem that both of these things face. To assist in the ongoing fight, the FIA teamed up with RM Sotheby’s to create the ‘Race Against COVID’ online auction, in which the item that fetched the highest price was a 2009 McLaren MP4-24 F1 show car.
It sold for a massive 66,000 Euros. Following that, the item that sold for the second greatest sum of 48,000 Euros was the famous ‘Eau Rogue’ artwork by Paul Oz – a bronze work that immortalized how Ayrton Senna took the corner of the same name.
F1 remained as the best-seller as Damon Hill’s 1995 race suit and helmet went for the third highest at 39,600 Euros among the racing items with the fourth highest-fetched thing got 33,000 Euros. It was the 2012 ROC car that was driven by German F1 legends Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Lewis Hamilton-signed Mercedes AMG F1 boots, suit and gloves fetched 31,200 Euros to be the fifth highest among the racing items, but the promoted Toyota car seems like wasn’t sold. In all, RM Sotheby’s raised 944,352 Euros in all, while the FIA had already donated 100,000 Euros to benefit International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
FIA President Jean Todt said: “Almost 2 million euros raised by the #RaceAgainstCovid online charity auction organised by the FIA and RM Sothebys to benefit the IFRC’s global COVID19 response: that’s a substantial achievement. Thanks to all donators and bidders, notably the FIA Foundation, for their generous contributions.
“In addition to this auction, I remind that the partnership between FIA and IFRC against COVID-19 includes a preventive health support for the motor sport restart, and a reinforced cooperation between FIA Member Clubs and Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies.
“In these difficult times, health, mobility and sport must walk together. We join forces in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and our FIA Sport and Mobility Clubs’ network will play an important role in this collective effort.” Maarten ten Holder, the head of RM Sotheby’s Europe, added: “As we have seen so many times before, sales to benefit fantastic causes also generate incredible generosity.
“In the case of this sale, we have seen overwhelming kindness from all those within the motorsport community who donated the wonderful items and experiences the sale had to offer, and we have also seen the fans, enthusiasts and collectors dig very deep and pay large sums to benefit this remarkable cause.
“This has been a remarkable success and everyone involved should be immensely proud. Congratulation to the FIA for establishing this initiative ant to the FIA Foundation for its generous contributions.”
Here’s rest of the racing item sold in Euros from highest to lowest:
Charles Leclerc suit, 2019 – 30,000
Max Verstappen signed suit w/ boots and rear wing endplate – 27,600
Sebastian Vettel suit and Ferrari SFF90 rear-wing endplate, 2019 – 23,400
Mercedes F1 guest experience – 22,800
Michael Schumacher memorabilia – 18,000
Fernando Alonso signed suit, 2013 – 15,600
Nigel Mansell suit, 1980 – 14,400
Kimi Raikkonen suit, 2017 – 14,400
Sebastien Loeb suit, 2013 – 12,600
Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, and Jean Todt painting by Armin Flossdorf – 11,700
Valtteri Bottas signed suit, gloves, and boots – 11,400
One-day Scuderia Ferrari simulator experience – 9,900
VW I.D.R model, Julien Ingrassia suit, Sebastien Ogier helmet – 9,300
Ayrton Senna replica suit, 1991 – 9,000
Carlos Sainz Sr. suit, 2010 – 8,700
Kimi Raikkonen suit, 2019 – 8,700
Sebastien Ogier signed suit, 2020 – 8,400
Miscellaneous Toyota Gazoo Racing memorabilia – 8,100
Daniel Ricciardo suit, 2020 – 8,100
24 hours of Le Mans Michelin VIP experience, 2021 – 8,100
Tom Kristensen suit, 2014 – 7,800
Romain Grosjean helmet, 2019 – 7,800
Jenson Button suit, 2015 – 7,200
WRC ride-along experience – 7,200
Nico Rosberg replica helmet, 2016 – 6,600
Ferrari F1 painting by Armin Flossdorf – 6,600
Jackie Stewart replica helmet (1/2 scale) – 6,300
ABB Formula E VIP e-prix experience – 6,300
Felipe Massa suit, 2017 – 6,000
Formula E Julius Bar VIP experience – 6,000
Citreon C3 WRC test car rear wing, 2019 – 6,000
Alexander Albon Red Bull suit, 2019 – 5,640
Kimi Raikkonen signed gloves, 2019 – 5,520
Kevin Magnussen helmet, 2020 – 5,400
Sergio Perez suit, 2014 – 5,280
Sauber C35 front wing, 2016 – 5,160
Lando Norris suit, 2019 – 5,040
Gabriele Tarquini helmet, 2017 – 5,040
Hyundai i20 coupe WRC rear wing, 2019 – 4,800
Carlos Sainz Jr. suit, 2019 – 4,560
Miki Biason replica suit, 1988 – 4,560
George Russell signed suit, 2020 – 4,440
Tony Kanaan 7-eleven suit, 2008 – 4,200
Laurens Vanthoor suit, 2018 – 3,720
Esteban Ocon suit, 2017 – 3,720
Felipe Massa suit, 2016 – 3,720
Juan Pablo Montoya signed racing suit, 2019 – 3,120
Nicholas Latifi signed suit, 2020 – 3,000
Pirelli HQ VIP experience – 3,000
Esteban Ocon signed replica helmet, 2017 – 2,880
Augusto Farfus suit, 2020 – 2,820
Pair of Sparco Sedile Pro 2000 QRT Martini seats, 2020 – 2,640
Alexander Sims suit and helmet, 2018/19 – 2,580
Norbert Michelisz suit, 2019 – 2,400
Brendon Hartley signed suit, 2018 – 2,400
24 hours of Le Mans ‘superfan’ experience, 2021 – 2,340
Signed Michelin motorsport tyres – 2,280
Lewis Hamilton-signed ‘Duel in the Desert’ painting by Automobilist – 2,160
Signed Red Bull Racing undershirt – 2,220
Emerson Fittipaldi signed suit, 2018 – 1,800
Peugeot 208 WRX front bumper, 2018 – 1,800
Audi DTM painting by Armin Flossdorf – 1,740
24 hours of Le Mans signed poster, 2020 – 1,620
BMW Formula E simulator test session experience – 1,440
Force India wheel coffee table, 2017 – 1,380
Mick Schumacher signed visor, undershirt – 1,320
Maximilian Günther suit and gloves, 2016 – 1,260
Jutta Kleinschmidt Signed Racing Suit and Book – 870
Nico Rosberg-signed miniature helmet, 2016 – 870
Antonio Giovinazzi signed gloves, 2019 – 810
Yvan Muller suit, 2018 – 750
Manuel Reuter suit, 2001 – 480
Nick Cassidy suit, 2015 – 468
Tiago Monteiro underwear, gloves, race visor, and card – 180
Here’s the story announcing the auction
The story was edited by Darshan Chokhani
