Petrolheads, it’s time to get those engines revving as On the Grid: The Abu Dhabi Auction has unveiled all the F1 race cars, supercars, and everything with wheels in between that will be up for bidding this race weekend in Abu Dhabi.
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Taking pole position at the Formula 1 Paddock Club on Saturday November 25 from 8.30pm (UAE time), the auction hosted by Bonham|Cars will see more than 30 collector cars on display, with expected sales expected to top $20 million.
To heighten the anticipation, F1 fans can cast their eyes over the stunning models from Thursday November 23 when the line-up will be showcased in a custom built, state-of-art gallery, only 100 metres from the track at Yas Marina Circuit. But don’t worry if you can’t make it to the UAE capital as the auction will be live-streamed on cars.bonhams.com.
But enough of this auction’s formation lap; what cars can we buy?
For the F1 purists, eye-catching exhibits include Mario Andretti’s 1978 John Player Special Lotus-Cosworth Type 79. The ‘Black Beauty’ that carried the American superstar to racing glory and the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship, has been set with a guide price of $6.5-9.5 million; Kimi Raikkonen’s 2006 McLaren MP4/21, which featured in the Monaco Grand Prix where the Iceman famously retired from the race and went to hang out on his private yacht; and an authorised Ferrari F2001 show car built to celebrate the legendary Michael Schumacher’s fourth title win. Both lots are expected to go between $2.5-3.5 million.
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The F1 connection will continue when the road cars come to the forefront with two-time champion Fernando Alonso offering up his custom McLaren Elva which is earmarked to fetch $3 million.
Moving completely away from the track, top-tier supercars and sports cars will include the 1993 Porsche 911 Type 964 Carrera RSR ‘Strassenversion’ Coupé and the 1989 Lamborghini Countach that Leonardo DiCaprio wrecked portraying the life of stockbroker Jordan Belfort in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Each vehicle has been listed between $2.5-3.5 and $1.5-2 million respectively.
