Mansell's 'Red Five' Wins For Bonhams At Festival Of Speed

July 10, 2019 by Bonhams

1992 Williams-Renault FW14B Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater

Chassis no. FW14-08 Engine no. 240

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. '

As expected, other successful British motorsport challengers were also popular in today's sale:

A 2001 Lister Storm GT1 Sport-racing Prototype – one of only six produced, which was driven by such names as Julian Bailey, Nicolaus Springer and Bobby Verdon-Roe, achieved £465,750.

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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.

1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8 'Works' Rally Car, prepared by the factory and winner of that

year's Spa-Sofia-Liège rally, achieved £230,000.

Away from the race track, British road cars also proved popular with Festival of Speed bidders.

Aston Martin was feted by Goodwood, with the festival's central feature honouring the 70th anniversary of the brand. In the Bonhams sale, a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV 4.2 Litre Vantage Sports Saloon sold for £465,750.

One of the earliest supercars, a 1998 Jaguar XJ220 – the all-time fastest Jaguar road car – sped away from the rostrum, selling for £414,000.

A 2011 Land Rover Defender 'Spectre' which featured twice in the James Bond motion picture series, as the only Land Rover used in two consecutive films – Skyfall and Spectre – was sold for a stirring £316,250 – far exceeding its estimate.

Bonhams returns to Goodwood for the Revival Sale on 14 September 2019.