We showcased a Schumacher-signed Ferrari for sale, not so long ago, but how about a Schumacher-driven Ferrari?
We continuously stated that finding a Formula 1 car for sale is a rare occasion (even though we found three in the last few months), but this one is in a league of its own.
This beautiful, raw, F310B example wrote Formula 1 history in the hands of the legendary Schumacher. It didn’t brought him any Championship titles, but it brought him the “fighter” notoriety.
Sporting a Ferrari Tipo046 75-degree V10 powerplant, the car led Schumacher to victory at Suzuka – the second to last race in the 1997 season – giving him a one point advantage against his direct competitor, Jaques Villeneuve.
Before the final race in Jerez started, Schumacher, Villeneuve and Frentzen achieved exactly the same time in the qualifying session; up to the thousandth of a second – an occurrence rarer than unicorns. Still, management decided that the first starting positions were allocated in the order in which the drivers left the pits in the session – with Villeneuve first, Schumacher second and Frentzen third. This was only a map of things to come.
Hoping for a Championship winning victory at Jerez, Schumacher drove hard and eventually took the lead for more than half a race. But then he unexpectedly started losing speed, while Villeneuve began breathing down his neck, fast approaching in his Williams.
As the Canadian started overtaking Schumacher, the German slammed into Villeneuve, trying to block his path – a controversial maneuver considered dirty to this day. After the unfortunate incident, karma struck Schumacher hard as he skidded in the gravel, abandoning the race while Villeneuve escaped unharmed and eventually continued racing to victory.
This very car, chassis number 178, is the one Schumacher drove into Villeneuve, trying to fight for the lead. If you don’t believe, us we attached a video with the events down below.
The starting price of this incredible machine is “only” €650,000 ($733,187) over at Auctionata, but we all know it will fetch big bucks.
PHOTO GALLERY
