Mansell's 'Red Five' Wins for Bonhams at Festival of Speed
The Williams-Renault FW14B Formula 1 car, in which legendary British racing driver Nigel Mansell won a record-setting five Grand Prix races (all from pole) in his Championship-winning 1992 season, set another world record on Friday 5 July in Bonhams Festival of Speed sale, by achieving the highest price ever paid at auction for a Williams Grand Prix car - £2,703,000.
Designed by celebrated Formula 1 engineer Adrian Newey, The FW14B is considered one of the most sophisticated, dominant and important Formula 1 racing cars of all time, featuring state-of-the-art technology, including 6-speed semi-automatic transmission, ride-levelling active suspension and cutting-edge aerodynamics, powered by Renault's RS3 3.5-litre V10 engine.
The car which Bonhams successfully sold on 5 July, FW14B chassis 08, contested 13 of that year's 16 qualifying Grand Prix races, and was driven by Nigel Mansell to victory in the first five races, all starting from pole position, setting a new Formula 1 record for consecutive wins.
"It was just a fantastic year, with a fantastic car!", said 1992 World Champion Mansell about the FW14B in an interview with Bonhams Magazine.
After a tense three-way international bidding battle, the Williams-Renault was secured by a renowned private collector.
Global Director of Motorsport for Bonhams, Mark Osborne, said: "The Festival of Speed celebrates the very best of motor racing history. Against this background – one week before the British Grand Prix – we are delighted to see Nigel Mansell's Red Five set yet another world record. "