Goodwood sale sets world record price for Williams F1 car

The Williams-Renault that racing legend Nigel Mansell drove to victory in his championship winning season has set a new world record at auction.

Mansell piloted ‘Red Five’ to five Grand Prix victories in 1992. At Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on Friday, 5 July, the car sold for £2.7m – a new record for a Williams F1 car at auction.

Designed by Formula One engineer Adrian Newey, the FW14B featured state-of-the-art technology, including six-speed semi-automatic transmission, ride-levelling active suspension and cutting-edge aerodynamics, powered by Renault’s RS3 3.5-litre V10 engine.

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 One record for consecutive wins.

In an interview with Bonhams Magazine, Mansell said, ‘It was just a fantastic year, with a fantastic car!’ After a tense three-way international bidding battle, the Williams-Renault was secured by a renowned private collector.

As to be expected at the Festival of Speed, other successful British motorsport challengers were also popular in the sale.

A 1933 M J4 Midge Sports and Voiturette Racing Two-Seater, driven by Hugh Hamilton, Bobby Kohlrausch, Dennis Poore and David Piper, which contested the 1933 RAC TT, EifelRennen and Masaryk Grand Prix, was sold for £255,875.

And a 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk3 BJ8 ‘Works’ Rally Car, prepared by the factory and winner of that year’s Spa-Sofia-Liège rally, achieved £230,000.