Benetton F1 car Michael Schumacher won his first grand prix in 1992 set to fetch massive six figure sum at auction
The F1 ace has not been seen since 2013
THE car in which Michael Schumacher won his first grand prix could sell for £7million-plus.
The German drove the Benetton B192-05 to victory in Belgium in 1992.
The Benetton F1 car in which Michael Schumacher won his first grand prix could sell for £7million-plusCredit: SWNS
Scumacher on the podium after securing his first F1 race win – before going on to secure seven world titles and 91 race victoriesCredit: Getty
The race car has been described as one of the ‘most famous’ in F1 historyCredit: SWNS
His win in torrential conditions at Spa-Francorchamps marked the start of one of F1’s most dominant careers.
Schumacher went on to secure seven world titles and 91 race victories — records that stood for over a decade.
The Benetton is expected to fetch in excess of £7.38million at the Global Icons: Europe Online auction opening on January 23.
Yves Boitel, from Broad Arrow Auctions, said: “This is undoubtedly one of the most famous cars in F1 history.
“One that not only signalled the start of one of the greatest F1 careers of all time, but which also marked the end of the glorious era of manual gearboxes at the pinnacle of motorsport.”
Schumacher, 57, has not been seen since suffering a traumatic brain injury while skiing in 2013.
He fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area – suffering a serious head injury despite wearing a ski helmet.
Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital, where he underwent two operations.
He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a “traumatic brain injury”.#
The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was brought out of the coma in June 2014 and was released to go and rehabilitate at his home in Gland, Switzerland.
His tragic ski accident came just over a year after he retired from F1 in 2012.
The car marked the end of the era of manual gearboxes at the pinnacle of motorsportCredit: SWNS
